GODE, ETHIOPIA (APA) – Floods washed away at least 11 people and displaced thousands in Gode (700km from capital) in the eastern part of Ethiopia, APA learnt in Addis on Saturday.

According to Ethiopian authorities, the flood occurred late on Friday in Gode town due to the overflow of the Wabi Shebele River in the southeastern Somali regional state, one of the nine regional states in Ethiopia.

Heavy rains in the area resulted in the overflow of the Wabi Shebele River, which is one of the largest rivers in Ethiopia.

According to the Somali regional state Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Bureau, the flood also affected 116 districts in the regional state.

“The flood also washed away 6,000 various animals that belong to the farmers in the area. The regional state is trying to deliver food assistance to displaced people,” said the bureau.

Since few weeks, unusual rains have been affecting Ethiopia’s harvest in various areas of the country. This is feared to damage this year’s harvest.