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Hundreds of homes were washed away and cars overturned when the Dechatu River flooded the town, which has a population of 300,000. At least 39 of the dead were children, police said.
Kasahun Woldegebriel broke his leg after being dragged several miles by the torrential waters while on duty as a night guard outside several shops.
“I was on my duty when I saw the flash flood,” he said. “I did not have time to escape, so I climbed to the roof of one of the shops. But the flood waters demolished the house and I fell into the water. It dragged me a few kilometers away. Police found me the following morning.”
Getaneh Asfaw wept outside the local hospital as he waited to collect the body of his aunt. Others, who had lost their homes, gathered on the hospital grounds for food and shelter.
Rescuers continued their search but held out little hope of finding survivors.
The government and aid agencies have set up a task force in the town to coordinate rescue and response efforts.
“We have received reports from the highland areas that the rainfall will continue today,” Binyam said from the flooded town. “There could be another flood. We are warning the people on the city’s FM radio about the threat.
“We are preparing to build a defense wall with sacks of sands, in case another flood does come,” he said. “We have brought in 600 trainee police personnel from their nearby training camp who will also begin digging up dead bodies that we believe are covered in sand.”