At least 14 people have died after a landslide triggered by torrential rainfall struck the Tsadqane Debre Mitmaq St. Mary Monastery in Ethiopia’s Amhara region. The incident happened on Monday morning as hundreds of worshippers gathered for a holy water service, while rescue workers continued searching the area amid fears that more victims could be trapped.
According to church authorities, the landslide occurred at about 7 a.m. when rocks and mud gave way from a nearby hillside, engulfing part of the monastery grounds. Several people were buried, while seven others suffered injuries. The injured were taken to Debre Birhan Referral Hospital for medical treatment.
Megabe Hadis Neka Tibeb Ababu, who oversees the monastery’s diocese, said the victims had assembled for the religious gathering before the disaster unfolded.
“The disaster occurred at approximately 7 a.m., and many of those who died had gathered to receive the holy water.”
He added that rescue teams were still combing through the debris because the number of people buried had yet to be established.
Emergency officials and local authorities were deployed to coordinate rescue and recovery operations at the site. While many of the victims were laid to rest at the monastery, others were released to their relatives after identification. Officials said the recovery process has been complicated by the scale of the landslide.
The incident has renewed concerns over the dangers posed by Ethiopia’s annual Kiremt rainy season, which often brings flooding and landslides to several parts of the country. Rural communities located in mountainous areas remain particularly vulnerable because of unstable terrain and limited protective infrastructure.
Weather and disaster management experts say the increasing frequency of extreme rainfall events has heightened the risk of natural disasters across the Horn of Africa. They have called for improved early warning systems, stronger emergency response measures and better environmental management to reduce the impact of future tragedies.
