Ethiopia's parliament on Friday declared three days of national mourning as the death toll from floods and landslides in the southern Gamo region rose to 80, with many still missing.Torrential rains this week in the remote Gamo zone have caused massive destruction.
In a letter posted on Facebook, the house of representatives declared three days of mourning to start on Saturday "in honour of those who lost their lives".
It said 80 people have been confirmed dead, with search and rescue operations still ongoing. Police had earlier warned the toll could rise well over 100.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization and himself Ethiopian, earlier posted on X that thousands had been displaced by the disaster.
The WHO "immediately activated an emergency task team and deployed rapid response teams to the affected (areas) to support local health authorities", he said.
"Emergency medical supplies -- including trauma kits, cholera treatment materials, nutrition kits for children, and water disinfection supplies -- are being prepared for delivery," he added.
