Addis Ababa (AFP) – Floods caused by abnormally heavy rains have affected nearly 7 000 people in southern Ethiopia, disaster officials said on Wednesday.

“Almost 7 000 people are already affected by the floods caused by heavy rains in the south of the country for more than a week, especially in the Omo region,” said Sisay Tadesse, spokesperson for the Ethiopian Agency for Disaster Prevention (DPPC).

“The most affected areas are the Gamogofa zone, with over 6 000 people affected by the floods and the Wodayita zone, especially the Humbo district, with 600 people,” he said by telephone.

The rainy season began in early June in the Ethiopian Highlands and is due to last until the end of the September.

The DPPC warned of the likelihood of increased landslides and flash flooding because of high soil-saturation levels.

“These occurrences are considered abnormal for this time of the year and are earlier than last year’s flooding,” which began in August.