Hundreds killed as landslides hit Ethiopia's south

Locals desparately search for survivors in isolated area of South Ethiopia state

People search for survivors after a landslide in the Geze-Gofa district in southern Ethiopia. AFP

Landslides in southern Ethiopia have killed more than 220 people, with many more still missing.

Local authorities said 148 men and 81 women were confirmed to have been killed after mudslides caused by heavy rain in Gofa in the South Ethiopia regional state.

Reuters reported that most of those killed were buried in a mudslide as they were searching for survivors of another mudslide the previous day.

Five people had been pulled alive from the mud and were receiving treatment, the government-owned Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation reported earlier.

"Those who rushed for live-saving work have perished in the disaster including the locality's administrator, teachers, health professionals and agricultural professionals," EBC quoted local administrator Dagemawi Ayele as saying.

African Union Commission chief Moussa Faki Mahamat said "our hearts and prayers" were with the families of the victims.

"We stand in strong solidarity with the people and Government of Ethiopia as rescue efforts continue to find the missing and assist the displaced," he said on X.

The Gofa area is remote and mountainous and about 450km from the capital Addis Ababa.

The area experienced strong seasonal rains that caused flooding and displacement between April and early May, according to the UN's humanitarian response agency OCHA.

Authorities and locals were still digging for survivors from the latest mudslides on Tuesday afternoon, with the death toll expected to rise.

A woman among the crowd searching for survivors in southern Ethiopia. AFP