ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) \u2014 At least 50 people have died and 125 others are missing after landslides hit three districts in southern Ethiopia following a week of heavy rains, a local official said Thursday.<\/p>\n
The landslides happened in Gamo Zone and affected the Gacho Baba District, Kamba District and Bonke District, according to Gamo Zone director of disaster response Mesfin Manuqa.<\/p>\n
Manuqa said that one person was pulled out of the mud alive during the rescue operation.<\/p>\n
The Gacho Baba District communication chief, Abebe Agena, said most of those who died were found buried in the mud. It is not yet clear how many households were affected.<\/p>\n
Tilahun Kebede, president of the South Ethiopia Regional State, expressed his sorrow over the disaster and urged residents to move to higher ground as rains continue.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven that it is the rainy season and these types of disasters could happen again, I am calling on communities living in the highlands and flood-prone areas to take the necessary precautions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mudslides and floods caused by heavy rainfall are common in Ethiopia, especially during the rainy season.<\/p>\n