World

Ethiopia landslide death toll rises to 35

Police officers secure the perimeter at the scene of a garbage landslide, as excavators aid rescue efforts, on the outskirts of the capital Addis Ababa, yesterday. Picture by Elias Meseret, Associated Press
Police officers secure the perimeter at the scene of a garbage landslide, as excavators aid rescue efforts, on the outskirts of the capital Addis Ababa, yesterday. Picture by Elias Meseret, Associated Press Police officers secure the perimeter at the scene of a garbage landslide, as excavators aid rescue efforts, on the outskirts of the capital Addis Ababa, yesterday. Picture by Elias Meseret, Associated Press

The death toll has risen to 35 after a landslide swept through a massive rubbish dump on the outskirts of Ethiopia's capital.

Addis Ababa city spokeswoman Dagmawit Moges says most of the dead are women and children, and more bodies are expected to be found in the coming hours.

One resident says about 150 people were there when the landslide occurred on Saturday night.

The cause of the accident was not immediately clear, but residents say dumping of rubbish had resumed there in recent months.

Hundreds of people are believed to be at the landfill every day scavenging items to make a living. Others live there in makeshift homes.