Mudslide at Ethiopian monastery kills 14 pilgrims

Fourteen pilgrims were killed and five others injured when a mudslide struck a monastery in Ethiopia's northern Amhara region. The disaster occurred Monday morning after intense overnight rainfall, which caused a torrent of mud and rocks to cascade down a hill and engulf a section of the Tsadkane Mariam monastery.

The victims were reportedly praying inside the monastery when the landslide hit. Megabe Hadis Neka Tibeb Ababu, a representative of the diocese, confirmed the fatalities and stated that the injured were transported to a hospital. Local authorities in the Shewa North zone, where the incident took place approximately 200 kilometers northeast of the capital Addis Ababa, had initially reported 14 deaths, attributing them to an earthquake and a sudden landslide.

Ethiopia, a country of about 130 million people, is prone to heavy rainfall during its "long" rainy season, which typically runs from June to September. The country's predominantly rural population is often vulnerable to climate-related hazards.

This is not the first such disaster in Ethiopia this year. In July 2024, a mudslide in the southern part of the country claimed at least 257 lives. In March, floods and landslides in the same southern region resulted in the deaths of 80 people. These recurring events underscore the significant challenges Ethiopia faces in managing the impacts of extreme weather.

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Fourteen worshippers praying at the monastery lost their lives on the spot. Three others, who were seriously injured, were taken to the hospital.