Three days of mourning have been declared in Ethiopia after 80 people died in landslides triggered by heavy flooding.The death toll is likely to rise as many more remain missing after heavy rains struck the southern Gamo Zone area on Tuesday.
Another 3,461 people have been displaced by the landslides, according to the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission.The mourning period will begin on Saturday, Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives Tagesse Chafo said.

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The landslides were caused by heavy rain. Pic: AP

Heavy rains have pounded countries across East Africa in recent days.
In Kenya, at least 62 people have been killed in flash floods.The country has been hit by heavy rain since late February, which marks the start of the long rainy season.

Previous rain seasons have seen flooding, landslides and mudslides that have left hundreds of people dead and seen thousands of others displaced.The region is expected to see more rain and governments have urged residents to exercise caution.
Last month, the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre said the March-April-May rainy season has a 45% chance of above-average rainfall across most countries in the region, including Ethiopia and Kenya, as well as Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, South Sudan, Northern Somalia, and Djibouti.