Landslide at Ethiopian Monastery During Holy Water Ritual Kills 14, Search for Missing Continues
ADDIS ABABA — August 3, 2026 — A landslide triggered by heavy rainfall struck a monastery in Ethiopia’s Amhara region on Monday, August 3, killing at least 14 worshippers and injuring seven others, with an unknown number of people still missing, officials have confirmed .
The disaster occurred at approximately 7:00 a.m. local time at the Tsadqane Debre Mitmaq St. Mary Monastery in the North Shewa Zone, where hundreds of worshippers had gathered for a holy water cleansing ritual, a practice popular among those seeking spiritual healing for chronic illnesses .
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Search and Rescue Operations Ongoing
Megabe Hadis Neka Tibeb Ababu, the diocese’s general manager, told the Associated Press that an unknown number of people are still believed to be trapped beneath the debris . A team of experts from the local disaster prevention office has been deployed to assist search and rescue operations, the local administration’s communications office said in a statement .
Of the 14 confirmed dead, 11 have already been buried at the monastery, while the remains of the others were sent to their hometowns. Officials said it remained difficult to identify some of the victims .
Injuries and Medical Response
Five of the injured suffered serious wounds, while two sustained minor injuries . Those with severe injuries were transported to Debre Birhan, the capital of the North Shewa Administrative Zone, located approximately 70 kilometers (43 miles) from the monastery, for urgent medical treatment .
The Disaster Site
The landslide occurred near a mountain, where massive rocks broke loose and crashed onto the worshippers, worsening the disaster . The monastery is located in a region that has been identified as having high landslide susceptibility due to steep slopes, intense seasonal rainfall, and geological factors .
Regional Context: Rising Landslide Risk in Ethiopia
The Amhara region is one of several areas in Ethiopia classified as having high to very high landslide susceptibility, particularly in highland areas with steep slopes, intense rainfall exceeding 1,000 mm per year, and vulnerable geological formations .
Mudslides and flooding caused by heavy rainfall have become increasingly common in Ethiopia, particularly during the rainy season, known locally as Kiremt, which typically runs from June to September .
The Horn of Africa nation has been increasingly affected by extreme weather events linked to climate change. Poor infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, has left many communities highly vulnerable to flooding, landslides, and recurring droughts, with limited capacity to respond to such disasters . Approximately 45% of Ethiopia’s national territory exhibits moderate to very high landslide probability .
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Historical Deadly Landslides
Monday’s tragedy is the latest in a series of devastating landslides to hit Ethiopia:
- July 2024: A deadly mudslide triggered by heavy rains killed at least 257 people in southern Ethiopia .
- March 2026: Landslides in the Gamo Zone of southern Ethiopia killed at least 125 people and displaced more than 18,000 others .
- April 2026: A landslide in the Wolaita Zone of South Ethiopia Region killed four members of the same family
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