Tragedy at the Monastery: Landslide Claims 14 Lives in Ethiopia

A landslide triggered by heavy rains killed at least 14 people and injured several others at an Orthodox monastery in Ethiopia’s Amhara region on 3 August. Worshippers had gathered early in the morning for a popular holy-water cleansing ritual when massive rocks and debris crashed down from a steep slope above the site.

The disaster struck the Tsadkane Mariam (also referred to as Debre Metmik Tsadkane Mariam or Tsadqane Debre Mitmaq St. Mary) Monastery in the North Shewa zone, roughly 200 kilometres northeast of Addis Ababa. Hundreds of pilgrims were present seeking spiritual healing. Diocese officials reported that many of the victims were directly in the path of the falling material around 7 a.m. local time.

Search teams using excavation machinery worked to recover bodies. Eleven of the deceased were buried at the monastery, while others were returned to their home communities. Serious injuries were treated at facilities in Debre Birhan, about 70 kilometres away. Reports of the exact number of injured varied between five and seven, with some accounts noting that additional people may remain unaccounted for beneath the debris.

Ethiopia is currently in its main rainy season, which runs from June to September and frequently brings flooding and landslides in mountainous areas. The monastery’s location on a steep slope left worshippers particularly exposed once the ground gave way. Some initial reports mentioned the possibility of a tremor contributing to the failure, though heavy overnight rainfall accompanied by thunder was widely cited as the primary cause.

Local authorities and church leaders moved quickly to manage the aftermath, offering prayers and coordinating recovery. The tragedy highlights the vulnerability of remote religious sites during extreme weather events, which are becoming more intense in parts of the Horn of Africa.

As recovery continues, the loss of life during a moment of faith has deeply affected the local Orthodox community. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of climate-related hazards in regions where traditional gathering places often sit in challenging terrain.