Ethiopia declares 3-day national mourning after deadly landslide kills at least 72
The Ethiopian parliament on Tuesday declared a three-day national mourning for its 72 citizens who lost their lives after a massive landslide hit a landfill at the outskirts of Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa.
Even though the hope of finding missing residents alive is almost unlikely, many more bodies could still be found as the search continues “day and night” at the site where the landslide occurred, according to Dagmawit Moges, Head of Addis Ababa City Administration Communication Affairs Office.
Already, 320 inhabitants of the area have been evacuated to safer areas.
A committee particularly designated to properly respond to the crisis has been also established by the municipality.
Dagmawit, however, noted that since almost all residents in the area are informal settlers, the number of people missing has not been yet confirmed.
The deplorable condition of the 50-year old landfill is said to pose a huge challenge for emergency personnel who are working “day and night” to save the lives of those residents who are missing.
The massive landslide that occurred at 8 pm on Saturday has buried and damaged several buildings in the area, while many of the residents were inside their houses during the landslide.
Parliament instructed institutions in the country to fly the national flag at half-mast during the three-day national mourning period.
