At least 157 people have died in landslides in southern Ethiopia due to heavy rains during the rainy season, highlighting the impact of climate change and extreme weather events in East Africa.

Local authorities mention that the death toll could rise further, with 96 men and 50 women among the victims.

The victims, including a local administrative leader, teachers, healthcare workers, and farmers, were buried while attempting to rescue others affected by the landslides.

Rescue efforts have resulted in the discovery of at least five survivors among the victims of the mudslides.

Officials are still searching for missing individuals who were attempting to rescue others, indicating that the death toll is likely to increase as rescue operations continue.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has expressed deep sadness over the loss of life and has deployed federal officials to assist in the response to the disaster.

African Union chair Moussa Faki Mahamat and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus have offered solidarity and support to Ethiopia during this tragedy.

Images depict local residents using basic tools to retrieve bodies from a thick layer of red and sticky clay in the affected area.

The disaster area's rural, remote, and mountainous terrain has made rescue operations challenging, further complicated by heavy rainfall triggering multiple landslides.

Searches for survivors and bodies are ongoing, with women and children among the victims, in the rural, hilly, and isolated district of Geze-Gofa.

Violent rains have caused landslides in southwestern Ethiopia, affecting a rural, hilly, and isolated area over 450 kilometers from the capital, Addis Ababa.

The provisional death toll stands at 96 men and 50 women, with ongoing search efforts to locate more victims, suggesting a potential increase in the number of casualties.