Tragic Landslide at Ethiopian Monastery Claims 14 Lives

WHO:

ABC News - Megabe Hadis Neka Tibeb Ababu, the diocese’s general manager, provided information about the landslide and its victims.

WHAT:

ABC News - A landslide killed 14 people and injured seven others.

ABC News - An unknown number of people remain unaccounted for as search and rescue efforts continue.

ABC News - Of the dead, 11 have already been buried at the monastery, while the remains of the others were sent to their hometowns.

ABC News - Those who sustained serious injuries were taken to Debre Birhan, approximately 70 kilometers (43 miles) from the monastery.

WHERE:

ABC News - The landslide occurred at Tsadqane Debre Mitmaq St. Mary Monastery in Ethiopia’s Amhara region.

ABC News - Debre Birhan is the capital of North Shewa Administrative Zone, located about 70 kilometers (43 miles) from the monastery.

WHEN:

ABC News - The landslide occurred at approximately 7 a.m. on a Monday.

WHY:

ABC News - The landslide was triggered by heavy rainfall in the region.

ABC News - Mudslides and flooding caused by heavy rainfall have become increasingly common in Ethiopia, particularly during the rainy season, known as Kiremt, which typically runs from June to September.

HOW:

ABC News - A team of experts from the local disaster prevention office has been deployed to assist search and rescue operations.

(UPDATED August 4, 2026 10:38 UTC)

A tragic landslide at Tsadqane Debre Mitmaq St. Mary Monastery in Ethiopia's Amhara region has resulted in the deaths of 14 people, with seven others injured and an unknown number still unaccounted for as search and rescue efforts continue. According to Megabe Hadis Neka Tibeb Ababu, the diocese’s general manager, 11 of the deceased have already been buried at the monastery, while the others were sent back to their hometowns, and those with serious injuries were transported to Debre Birhan, located about 70 kilometers away. The landslide, triggered by heavy rainfall, highlights the increasing frequency of mudslides and flooding in the region during the rainy season, which typically runs from June to September.