ADDIS ABABA, July 23: The death toll from Monday’s landslide in southern Ethiopia has risen to 146, local government officials said on Tuesday.

The deadly landslide occurred on Monday morning at around 10:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) in southern Ethiopia’s Geze Gofa district.

The deaths include 96 males and 50 females, the Gofa Zone Government Communication Affairs Department said in a statement.

Local officials said that the death toll could increase as rescue continues.

Ethiopia is in the midst of a rainy season which started in July and is expected to last until mid-September. Constant rains occasionally cause landslides in some parts of the East African country.