Addis Ababa: The elders and families of victims of Geze Gofa District in Gofa Zone, where the recent landslide killed more than 200 people, said have expressed their deep appreciation to the Ethiopian people and the government, including Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, along with First Lady Zinash Tayachew, former Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn, and other high-ranking officials visited the affected area to offer condolences and assistance to the displaced and bereaved. The elders and the families of the victims have expressed their appreciation to all Ethiopians for their support at this time of tragedy. One of the elders in the vicinity, Markos Sankura, described the tragedy as a sudden and heartbreaking loss of lives. "The support and shared grief from all Ethiopians have provided immense comfort during this difficult time," he told ENA. Many residents lost multiple family members in the disaster. Mekbeb Eyasu, who narrowly escaped with her life, recounted the loss of five f amily members. "The Prime Minister's presence and the support from the community have helped ease our pain," she said. Another local elder, Tesfaye Sula, said that the people are consoled by the prime minister's presence in particular as he has reached out to share his grief and come with support. The Prime Minister was present at the scene today and consoled the bereaved and wished the people affected by the accident to find strength in their grief. Currently, people from different parts of the country are comforting the affected families and the community. A three-day national mourning period has been declared by the House of People's Representatives. The death toll from the landslide has reached 231, and relief efforts are ongoing. Source: Ethiopian News Agency