Ethiopia landslide kills 14 at monastery ritual, search continues for missing
A landslide triggered by heavy rainfall at a monastery in Ethiopia's Amhara region has killed at least 14 people. Search and rescue operations are ongoing as officials fear more victims remain trapped under debris.
Why it matters
This disaster underscores the vulnerability of the Horn of Africa to extreme weather events and the ongoing challenges posed by climate change and infrastructure limitations.
A landslide on Monday (August 3, 2026) triggered by heavy rainfall in Ethiopia's Amhara region killed 14 people and injured seven others, while an unknown number of people remain unaccounted for as search and rescue efforts continue.
The landslide occurred at Tsadqane Debre Mitmaq St. Mary Monastery, where hundreds of worshippers had gathered for a holy water cleansing ritual that is popular among people seeking spiritual healing for chronic illnesses.
"The disaster occurred at approximately 7 a.m., and many of those who died had gathered to receive the holy water," Megabe Hadis Neka Tibeb Ababu, the diocese's general manager, told The Associated Press .
He said an unknown number of people are still believed to be trapped beneath the debris.
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