Ethiopia Declares 3 Days of National Mourning for Victims of Garbage Dump Landslide

According to the local fire and emergency authority, the garbage dump landslide had destroyed 15 houses in the area, commonly known as Reppi neighborhood.

By Addis Getachew (Anadolu Agency) |

ADDIS ABABA–Ethiopia’s parliament declared a three-day national mourning period starting Wednesday (March 15) for dozens of people who were killed in a garbage dump landslide.

Ethiopian flag will fly at half-mast for three days across the country as well as at Ethiopian-owned ships and Ethiopian embassies and consular offices in accordance with the parliament’s declaration.

The death toll in the late Saturday (March 11) evening incident in the capital Addis Ababa rose to 72 by Tuesday afternoon.

According to the local fire and emergency authority, the landslide had destroyed 15 houses in the area.

The garbage dump site had piled up waste for 50 years from the capital’s homes and businesses. According to official estimates, Addis Ababa currently generates 2,400 tons of dry waste each day.

The site was meant for an energy generation scheme, which never materialized.

The parliament also expressed its deepest condolences to the bereaved families.

Source: Anadolu Agency
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