"The six were buried alive on Sunday by a landslide, triggered by a heavy downpour, while working at the site of the power project, which is being constructed to boost the country's energy supply," ENA said, quoting the region's police chief Mamo Abraha.

"The six others were caught in the middle while trying to run to safety, but were rescued by their colleagues," Mamo said.

In another incident, a mother and her three-year-old son were killed Tuesday in southern Ethiopia's Biletu region when lightning struck their home, completely destroying it, the area police chief Guta Demekesaa told AFP.

Ethiopia has two rainy seasons, a short season beginning in February and running through April and a long one from June through September.

TERRA.WIRE