Deadly landslide strikes Ethiopian monastery during prayer service
A hillside above the Tsadqane Debre Mitmaq St Mary Monastery collapsed onto an overnight prayer service, leaving fourteen people dead and several others injured. Heavy rain that had raged through the region overnight caused the steep slope to slide, trapping worshippers inside the carved‑out sanctuary.
Local authorities announced that eleven dead bodies have been buried within the monastery grounds while the remaining victims were flown back to their hometowns for burial. Rescue and search teams, which included emergency workers and nearby residents, ceased operations after the landslide overturned the site.
“The land above the cave slid after the heavy rain that lasted throughout the night,” said senior official Dagnachew Azbite. He added that seven people were found injured, five of whom required urgent medical treatment.
The prayer service, held at a chapel carved into the mountainside, included a holy water cleansing ritual sought by Orthodox Christians for spiritual healing. According to the diocese’s general manager, Migabe Hadis Neka Tibeb Ababu, many of those who died were there to receive the holy water.
Landslides remain a seasonal hazard in Ethiopia during its main rainy season (June–August). The country recorded other deadly mud‑slide and flood incidents in recent years, including more than a hundred casualties in March 2023 and 229 deaths in July 2024.
Scientists point to a rise in extreme wet spells and prolonged dry periods across East Africa as a consequence of human‑driven climate change. A recent IPCC report (Chapter 11) documents these trends, warning that such events are becoming more frequent and severe.
Additional reporting by Wycliffe Muia.
