More than 100 dead in floods in east Ethiopia

UNITED NATIONS - Floods in eastern Ethiopia after a river burst its banks have killed more than 100 people and 50,000 livestock and destroyed the homes of some 105,000 people, the United Nations said today.

The death toll was expected to keep rising as many people remain missing 10 days after the flooding began, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said.

"Some areas are unable to report damage yet because of communication problems. It is expected that the number of people affected will continue to increase, especially if rains continue," the UN office said.

The flooding submerged parts of Ethiopia's Somali Region when the Wabe Shebelle river overflowed its banks after 48 hours of torrential rains that began on April 23. The remote area is 700 km east of the capital, Addis Ababa.

Crops, property, wells and roads have been seriously damaged as well as housing, and emergency aid teams have had a hard time providing assistance because many areas remain inaccessible and communication is poor, the UN office said.

- REUTERS