Ethiopian flood toll 111
2005-04-30 16:36
Addis Ababa - Ethiopia's flooding death toll rose to 111 as devastating rains swept 50 villages in the southeastern region of the country, officials said on Saturday.
Four people were killed late on Friday as the week-long deluge swept away a bridge in Ethiopia's Fafam locality, 700km east of the capital Addis Ababa, Romedan Haji, southeastern region emergency aid coordinator, told reporters.
He said two of the victims were brothers.
A swollen river had driven about nine thousand people from their homes in Fafam and destroyed about 500 homes as well as killing 300 cows, 150 donkeys and 200 sheep and goats, he said.
The floods also swept away some 850 sheep and goats and destroyed about 1 500 bags of sugar in Wader, 1 600km southeast of the capital, the official said as the rains continued to wreak havoc in the region.
At least eight of the dead were devoured by crocodiles in the Wabe Shebell river after it burst its banks on Saturday.
The flooding, which began last Saturday, followed days of uninterrupted rain in the highlands to the north of the affected area in Ethiopia's Somali state and hit most villages at night, taking sleeping residents by surprise.
Ethiopian authorities on Friday pleaded for international help in dealing with the crisis that hit a land better known for devastating droughts.