Ethiopia in Crisis: Deadly Landslides and the Growing Climate Threat 

Ethiopia is grappling with escalating climate challenges in 2024 and 2025, with extreme weather events and environmental hazards severely impacting lives and livelihoods. 

In July 2024, heavy rains triggered catastrophic landslides in the South Ethiopia Regional State, particularly in the Kencho-Shacha locality of Geze Gofa. The initial landslide on July 21 buried several households, and a subsequent slide the next morning engulfed rescuers and nearby villages. These events resulted in at least 257 fatalities, making them the deadliest landslides in Ethiopia’s history. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicated that the death toll could rise further, potentially exceeding 500. The disaster also displaced over 15,000 individuals, necessitating urgent evacuations due to ongoing heavy rains and the risk of additional landslides. 

Shortly after, in August 2024, the Wolayita Zone experienced another deadly landslide caused by intense rainfall. This incident claimed at least 13 lives and forced the evacuation of more than 300 residents due to fears of further landslides in the mountainous terrain. 

Rising global temperatures are intensifying Ethiopia’s rainfall patterns, leading to more frequent and erratic precipitation. This increases evaporation and atmospheric moisture, resulting in heavier downpours that trigger landslides, flooding, and widespread damage. Saturated soils in mountainous areas become unstable, causing deadly landslides like those in Geze Gofa and Wolayita. Excess rainfall also disrupts agriculture by damaging crops, accelerating soil erosion, and threatening food security. Additionally, overwhelmed drainage systems contribute to infrastructure failures, displacement, and economic losses, highlighting the urgent need for climate adaptation measures. 

Read more about extreme weather here. 

Read more about the socioeconomic risks of climate change here.