A landslide struck Tsadqane Debre Mitmaq St. Mary Monastery in Ethiopia’s Amhara region on Monday, resulting in at least 14 deaths and seven injuries. The incident occurred during a gathering of hundreds of worshippers participating in a holy water cleansing ritual. According to the diocese’s general manager, the disaster happened around 7 a.m., with a significant number of attendees assembled to receive the holy water as part of religious observances they believe offer spiritual healing for chronic illnesses.
Massive rocks broke loose from a nearby mountain and crashed onto the assembled worshippers, compounding the severity of the disaster. An unknown number of individuals remain unaccounted for beneath the debris, prompting ongoing search and rescue operations. Of those confirmed deceased, 11 have been interred at the monastery itself, while other remains were transported to the victims’ home communities. Identifying some victims has proven difficult due to the nature of the incident. Those sustaining serious injuries were transported to medical facilities in Debre Birhan, approximately 43 miles from the monastery.
Local disaster prevention authorities have deployed expert teams to assist in search and recovery efforts. The incident occurred during Ethiopia’s rainy season, known locally as Kiremt, which extends from June through September. Heavy rainfall-triggered mudslides and flooding have become increasingly prevalent in the nation during this period. A similar deadly mudslide in July 2024 claimed at least 257 lives in southern Ethiopia, while earlier this year another comparable incident in Gamo resulted in over 100 deaths.
Experts attribute Ethiopia’s growing vulnerability to such disasters to multiple factors, including extreme weather patterns associated with climate change and inadequate infrastructure in rural areas. These conditions limit communities’ capacity to respond effectively to flooding, landslides, and other severe weather events. The Horn of Africa nation continues to face compounding challenges from natural disasters linked to environmental and infrastructural vulnerabilities.
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