Landslide Kills 14 Worshippers At Ethiopian Monastery As Search For Missing Continues

At least 14 people were killed and seven injured after a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall struck Tsadqane Debre Mitmaq St. Mary Monastery in Ethiopia's Amhara region during a holy water gathering. Rescue teams are searching for an unknown number of people still trapped beneath rocks and mud, while the injured have been taken to nearby hospitals. The tragedy follows a series of deadly landslides in Ethiopia, including the 2024 disaster that killed more than 250 people, highlighting the growing impact of extreme weather and the country's vulnerability to climate-related disasters.

At least 14 people have been killed and seven others injured after a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall struck a monastery in Ethiopia's Amhara region, with rescue teams continuing to search for an unknown number of people believed to be trapped beneath rocks and mud.
The tragedy occurred on Monday at Tsadqane Debre Mitmaq St. Mary Monastery, where hundreds of worshippers had gathered to participate in a traditional holy water cleansing ceremony widely believed to offer spiritual healing for chronic illnesses.
According to church officials, the landslide struck at around 7:00 a.m., catching many worshippers by surprise.
"The disaster occurred at approximately 7 a.m., and many of those who died had gathered to receive the holy water," said Megabe Hadis Neka Tibeb Ababu, general manager of the local diocese.

RESCUE EFFORTS UNDERWAY

Authorities said the death toll could rise because an unknown number of people remain missing.
Rescue teams, supported by experts from the local disaster prevention office, have been deployed to search through debris left by the landslide.
Officials said the disaster became more severe when massive rocks broke loose from a nearby mountainside and crashed onto the gathering.
Eleven victims have already been buried at the monastery, while the bodies of the remaining victims have been returned to their hometowns.
Several of the injured were transferred to hospitals in Debre Birhan, the capital of North Shewa Administrative Zone, about 70 kilometres from the monastery.
Church officials said some victims were difficult to identify because of the severity of the incident.

HEAVY RAINS INCREASE LANDSLIDE RISK

The disaster occurred during Ethiopia's annual Kiremt rainy season, which usually lasts from June to September.
Heavy rainfall during this period frequently triggers floods and landslides, particularly in mountainous and rural communities where unstable slopes and poor infrastructure increase the danger.
Meteorologists have warned that prolonged rainfall continues to saturate hillsides across several parts of Ethiopia, raising the likelihood of further landslides.

SERIES OF DEADLY DISASTERS

The latest tragedy follows several major landslides that have struck Ethiopia in recent years.
In July 2024, one of the country's deadliest landslides killed at least 257 people in southern Ethiopia after torrential rains buried entire communities beneath mud and debris.
Earlier in 2026, another landslide in the Gamo area claimed the lives of more than 100 people, once again highlighting the vulnerability of rural settlements during the rainy season.
Those disasters prompted renewed calls for improved disaster preparedness, early warning systems and safer settlement planning in high-risk areas.

CLIMATE CHANGE INTENSIFYING EXTREME WEATHER

Experts say climate change is contributing to increasingly unpredictable rainfall patterns across the Horn of Africa.
The region has experienced alternating periods of prolonged drought and intense rainfall in recent years, creating conditions that increase the risk of flooding and landslides.
Humanitarian organisations have repeatedly warned that many Ethiopian communities remain highly exposed because of limited infrastructure, difficult terrain and insufficient disaster response capacity.
Authorities say search and rescue operations will continue until everyone believed trapped at the monastery has been accounted for.