President-elect Paul Kagame has expressed his deepest sympathies to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed over the deadly landslide incident in southern Ethiopia.

According to reports, the deadly landslide that occurred on Monday morning in southern Ethiopia&039;s Geze Gofa District has so far claimed the lives of at least 229 people amid ongoing rescue operations.

"My deepest sympathies to Prime Minister @AbiyAhmedAli and the victims of the devastating landslides that have claimed hundreds of lives in southern Ethiopia. Rwanda stands in solidarity and support with the people of Ethiopia during this difficult time,” said on X, formerly Twitter.

The death toll, which was initially reported to be 20 shortly after the incident, significantly mounted due to additional accidents on the people who went to the area for life-saving work, Xinhua reports, noting that teachers, health professionals, and agriculture professionals who were present early in the accident for life-saving work became victims of the accident.

The local government called on all Ethiopians to extend support and attention that is needed to the zone for further rescue efforts to find the missing while also assisting the displaced people, it is reported.