Ethiopian landslides have claimed 157 lives, according to an official

A government official stated on Tuesday that the death toll from two landslides in southern Ethiopia has increased significantly to 157 and that there may be more deaths.

According to officials, on Monday morning, a second landslide engulfed those who had arrived to help after the first one in the Gofa zone of the Southern Ethiopia regional state buried people.

“There are still bodies that have not been found despite ongoing searches. The region is extremely difficult,” Markos Melese, the head of the Gofa Zone National Disaster Response organization, told Reuters over the phone.

“From two villages, we have recovered 157 bodies thus far. We anticipate a rise in the number.”

Children and police officers were among the at least 50 persons who had passed away, according to an official statement on Monday.