A fatal landslide hit the Tsadqane Debre Mitmaq St Mary Monastery in Ethiopia's northern Amhara region during an overnight prayer session, killing 14 people and injuring seven others.
The disaster occurred early Monday when heavy rains caused a hillside above the monastery, which features a prayer chamber carved into the mountainside, to collapse. Worshippers had gathered for a special prayer service that included a holy water cleansing ritual, a practice common among Orthodox Christians seeking healing for chronic illnesses.
Dagnachew Azbite, a senior local official, explained that the land slid after continuous heavy rainfall throughout the night. Rescue operations involving emergency teams, healthcare workers, security personnel, and local residents were conducted but have since been halted due to the risks.
Megabe Hadis Neka Tibeb Ababu, the diocese's general manager, noted that many victims were present to receive the holy water. Eleven of the deceased have been buried at the monastery, while others were returned to their hometowns. Identifying some victims remains challenging.
Archbishop Abune Klementos, head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church's North Shewa Diocese, led funeral prayers at the site and offered support to the injured and grieving families.
Context of Recurring Landslides in Ethiopia
Landslides and floods are common hazards during Ethiopia's main rainy season from June to August. Earlier this year, over 100 people died in floods and landslides in the southern Gamo Zone. In July 2024, a landslide in the Geze Gofa Zone killed more than 229 people, including rescuers, marking one of the country’s deadliest weather-related disasters.
Scientific studies over the past two decades have shown an increase in extreme weather events in East Africa, with climate change contributing to more frequent and severe heavy rainfall episodes.
