14 Dead, Many Missing After Landslide Hits Ethiopian Monastery Ritual

A landslide triggered by heavy rainfall in Ethiopia's Amhara region has killed at least 14 people and injured seven others, with an unknown number still missing, local authorities said on Monday.

The incident occurred at the Tsadqane Debre Mitmaq St. Mary Monastery, where hundreds of worshippers had gathered for a holy water cleansing ritual, a practice believed to offer spiritual relief from chronic illnesses.

Megabe Hadis Neka Tibeb Ababu, the diocese's general manager, told The Associated Press that the disaster struck at approximately 7 a.m. local time. "Many of those who died had gathered to receive the holy water," he said, adding that an unknown number of people are still believed to be trapped beneath the debris.

Rescue teams have been deployed to the site in the North Shewa Administrative Zone, about 70 kilometres from the town of Debre Birhan. The local administration's communications office said a team of experts from the disaster prevention office has joined the search and rescue operation.

According to Ababu, 11 of the deceased have already been buried at the monastery, while the remains of the others were sent to their hometowns. He noted that identifying some victims remains difficult.

Those who sustained serious injuries were taken to Debre Birhan, the capital of the North Shewa Administrative Zone, for medical treatment.”

The landslide occurred near a mountain, where massive rocks broke loose and crashed onto the worshippers, worsening the scale of the disaster. The exact number of people still unaccounted for has not been confirmed.

Mudslides and flooding caused by heavy rainfall have become increasingly common in Ethiopia, particularly during the Kiremt rainy season, which typically runs from June to September. In July 2024, a mudslide in southern Ethiopia killed at least 257 people, and earlier this year, more than 100 people died in a similar event in the Gamo region.

Ethiopia, a Horn of Africa nation, has been increasingly affected by extreme weather events linked to climate change. Poor infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, leaves many communities highly vulnerable to flooding, landslides, and recurring droughts, with limited capacity to respond to such disasters.