The death toll from two landslides in the Gofa zone of southern Ethiopia on Monday has risen to 229, according to authorities.

The landslides occurred on Sunday evening and Monday morning, after heavy rains in a mountainous area in Kencho Shacha Gozdi Kebele of the Gofa zone.

The Zonal Disaster Risk Management focal person, Markos Meles, and the Geze Gofa district administrator, Misikir Meteku, said Tuesday that 148 males and 81 females had been killed, with many women and children among the victims.

Heavy rains caused a landslide in Gofa Zone on Sunday night, burying residents. A second landslide on Monday morning engulfed those gathered for search-and-rescue operations, an official said.

The district administrator, Misikir, said the search for survivors is still ongoing and fears the death toll could rise further.

Footage shared by the local administration showed people digging up bodies with shovels and bare hands. Prime minister Abiy Ahmed said he was deeply saddened by the terrible loss of life, and that federal officials had been deployed to reduce the impact of the diaster.