At Least 14 Dead, 7 Injured in Landslide at Monastery
At Least 14 Dead, 7 Injured in Landslide at Monastery
Charna FlamWed, August 5, 2026 at 12:47 AM UTC
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Amhara Region Ethiopia, AfricaCredit: Getty -
A landslide occurred at Tsadkane Debre Mitmaq St. Mary Monastery in Ethiopia on Monday, Aug. 3
The natural disaster struck the Monastery patrons who were attending a prayer service
At least 14 people died, and seven were injured. It remains unclear if there are more victims beneath the debris
Over a dozen people have been killed in a deadly landslide in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia on Monday, Aug. 3.
The landslide was triggered by heavy rainfall around 7 a.m. local time, resulting in the devastating event at Tsadkane Debre Mitmaq St. Mary Monastery, according to the . A group of rocks slid down the mountain and crashed onto the Monastery patrons; several of the deceased victims were “gathered to receive the holy water,” the diocese’s general manager Megabe Hadis Neka Tibeb Ababu said, the outlet reported.
The group of patrons had gathered for the special prayer service. The Orthodox Christian service included a holy water cleansing ritual for chronic illnesses, per the BBC.
Eleven of the deceased victims were buried at the monastery; the remaining three were transported to their hometowns, Ababu said. The funeral was led by Archbishop Abune Klementos, the head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church’s North Shewa Diocese.
It remained difficult to identify some of the victims, and the total number of victims remains unclear. Ababu stated there could be more people trapped in the debris.
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Senior local official Dagnachew Azbite told the BBC that seven people had been found injured, with five of the victims sustaining serious injuries. Those seriously hurt were transported 43 miles away to the capital of North Shewa Administrative Zone, Debre Birhan.
Search and rescue efforts included nearby residents, emergency services, healthcare workers, security personnel and an expert team from the local disaster prevention office, per the BBC.
The landslide comes amid the country’s rainy season, which usually lasts from June to September, and is known as Kiremt.
Months prior, in March, heavy rains caused landslides and floods in Ethiopia’s southern Gamo Zone area, and over 100 people died. In July 2024, heavy rain triggered a severe mudslide that killed at least 257 people in southern Ethiopia, per AP.
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Source: “AOL Breaking”
