A deadly landslide hit the Tsadqane Debre Mitmaq St. Mary Monastery in Ethiopia's Amhara region on Monday morning, resulting in 14 fatalities and seven injuries. The tragedy occurred around 7 a.m. while numerous worshippers had gathered for a holy water cleansing ceremony.
Megabe Hadis Neka Tibeb Ababu, the diocese's general manager, confirmed that rescue operations are ongoing to locate individuals still missing under the debris. So far, 11 victims have been buried at the monastery, with others taken to their hometowns for burial.
Those seriously injured were transported to hospitals in Debre Birhan, the capital of the North Shewa Administrative Zone, approximately 70 kilometers from the site.
The landslide coincides with Ethiopia's Kiremt rainy season, which spans June to September and often brings heavy rains that trigger floods and landslides. This incident follows previous deadly mudslides in southern Ethiopia in July 2024 that claimed at least 257 lives, and another earlier this year in the Gamo area with over 100 fatalities.
Local disaster prevention teams have joined the search and rescue efforts. Experts highlight that climate change, inadequate infrastructure, and limited emergency response capacity intensify the risks communities face during the rainy season.
