A landslide struck Tsadqane Debre Mitmaq St. Mary Monastery in Ethiopia’s Amhara region on Monday, resulting in 14 deaths and seven injuries. The incident occurred during a holy water cleansing ritual that adherents gather for seeking spiritual healing from chronic illnesses. According to Megabe Hadis Neka Tibeb Ababu, the diocese’s general manager, the disaster took place around 7 a.m., with many of the deceased having assembled to participate in the religious observance.
The search and rescue operation continues as an undetermined number of individuals remain unaccounted for beneath debris. Of the confirmed fatalities, 11 have been interred at the monastery while the remains of others were transported to their home communities. Officials noted that identifying some victims has proven difficult. Those with serious injuries were transferred to medical facilities in Debre Birhan, located approximately 70 kilometers from the monastery.
The landslide occurred when large rocks broke loose from a nearby mountain and descended onto the gathered worshippers. A team of disaster prevention experts from local authorities has been mobilized to support ongoing rescue operations. The incident represents one in a series of extreme weather events affecting the region, as heavy rainfall regularly triggers mudslides and flooding in Ethiopia, particularly during the rainy season known as Kiremt, which extends from June through September.
Ethiopia has experienced multiple similar disasters in recent years. In July 2024, a mudslide caused by heavy rains claimed at least 257 lives in southern Ethiopia, while earlier this year more than 100 people died in a comparable event in Gamo, also in the southern part of the country. Experts attribute the increasing frequency of extreme weather events to climate change, while noting that inadequate infrastructure in rural areas compounds community vulnerability to such hazards and limits disaster response capacity.
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