Tragedy At Tsadqane Debre Mitmaq Monastery Landslide During Holy Water Ritual

A landslide at the Tsadqane Debre Mitmaq St. Mary Monastery in Ethiopia killed 14 people on August 4, 2026, according to reporting from The Hindu. The disaster occurred during a holy water cleansing ritual that had drawn hundreds of worshippers to the site, and search operations continue for additional missing persons.

Casualties and Search Operations at Debre Mitmaq

The landslide struck while worshippers were gathered for a religious ritual at the Tsadqane Debre Mitmaq St. Mary Monastery. Local authorities and emergency responders have confirmed 14 deaths resulting from the collapse of earth and debris, as reported by The Hindu.

Search and rescue teams remain on-site to locate individuals who are still missing. The scale of the gathering, which involved hundreds of participants, has complicated efforts to establish a final casualty count as teams sift through the landslide debris.

Context of the Religious Ritual

The victims were attending a holy water cleansing ritual, a traditional practice in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. These gatherings often draw large crowds to monasteries and sacred springs, particularly during specific religious observances.

The monastery, located in a region prone to varied topography, became the site of the collapse during the event. The Hindu reports that the high density of people gathered for the ritual increased the risk and impact of the landslide.