Located in China’s Chongqing Municipality, the feature has been known to local communities for centuries, a report by BBC Wildlife says.

‘Xiaozhai’ refers to a long-abandoned village nearby, while ‘Tiankeng’ translates as ‘Heavenly Pit’, the regional term used for sinkholes, the report said.

Measuring about 626 metres deep and 527 metres wide, the giant depression is so large it could dwarf familiar landmarks — it is roughly twice the height of the Eiffel Tower and significantly wider than London’s O2 Arena.

The scale of the depression is so vast that it could hold tens of thousands of Olympic-sized swimming pools, the report said.

Xiaozhai Tiankeng is believed to have formed gradually over tens of thousands of years, influenced by a combination of processes both above and below the ground.

Its distinctive two-layer structure — a wide upper basin that narrows into a smaller chamber beneath — suggests the ground likely collapsed in phases rather than at once.

Over the thousands of years that followed, the sinkhole has evolved into a self-contained natural environment.

Despite limited sunlight reaching its base, a humid, subtropical microclimate has formed, supporting a surprisingly wide variety of life, the report added.

According to the report, rare animals such as the clouded leopard have been observed here, as well as more than 1,200 plant species, including ancient ginkgo trees, ferns and mosses.

The report said that plants growing in these conditions have adapted in remarkable ways to cope with low light levels.

Compared with plants above the ground, they have lower carbon content but higher levels of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus.

All of these features make Xiaozhai Tiankeng not just a geological marvel, but also a unique ecological haven — one of the most unusual and biologically rich natural environments on the planet.

The tremors were reported in Peshawar, Swat, Malakand, Buner, Dir, Swabi, Nowshera, Abbottabad and Mansehra.

According to the information provided, the earthquake had a magnitude of 5.7 on the Richter scale.

The epicentre was located in Tajikistan, at a depth of 170 kilometres.

No further details about damage or casualties were provided in the input.

According to the National Centre of Meteorology, temperatures are expected to climb on Monday and again on Wednesday.

The mercury could reach up to 41°C in inland areas, with humidity rising to as high as 70 per cent.

Coastal cities, including Abu Dhabi and Dubai, are also likely to see temperatures exceeding 40°C this week.

The weather authority issued a 12-hour yellow alert on Sunday, warning of strong north-westerly winds reaching up to 40 km/h, along with rough sea conditions in the Arabian Gulf and waves up to 1.8 metres.

Recent days have already seen high temperatures, with 43.3°C recorded in Al Quaa, Al Ain, on Saturday, and 42.5°C in Sweihan a day earlier.

For Monday, the forecast indicates further temperature increases, with strong winds expected to stir dust in some areas. Another rise in temperatures is predicted for Wednesday.

The latest conditions follow a period of unsettled weather last month, which brought heavy rain, thunderstorms and flooding in parts of the country.

The area consumed by the fires reached 1,373 hectares (3,393 ​acres) as of early Sunday morning, up 7% from ​a day earlier.

The fires threaten residential districts of Otsuchi ⁠on the Pacific Coast - a town that lost nearly a ​tenth of its population in one of Japan’s worst disasters, the ​March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Evacuation orders are in place for 1,541 households or 3,233 residents, roughly a third of Otsuchi’s population.

“Although the Self-Defence Forces are ​fighting the fires from the sky (with helicopters), the dry weather ​and winds are helping the fires expand,” Otsuchi Mayor Kozo Hirano told ‌a ⁠press conference.

One Otsuchi resident said he worried about the damage the wildfire could inflict.

“A fire burns everything down. With a tsunami, you might have something left after the destruction,” Yoshinori Komatsu, 74, said ​as he watched ​Self-Defence Force ⁠helicopters dump water over fires in the distance.

The only casualty to date has been one minor ​injury suffered when a person fell at an ​evacuation centre, ⁠Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency said on its website.

No rain is expected in the region on Sunday or Monday, but a ⁠brief ​shower is forecast on Tuesday, according ​to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The cause of the fires is unclear and under investigation.

The agency said climate models now strongly indicate the return of El Niño during the May to July period, following a phase of neutral conditions earlier this year.

It warned the event could intensify in the months ahead and may reach strong levels.

El Niño is part of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a natural climate cycle in the Pacific Ocean that shifts between warmer (El Niño) and cooler (La Niña) phases every two to seven years.

The phenomenon raises sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific, disrupting trade winds and influencing global weather patterns.

Meteorologists say El Niño events can significantly affect rainfall and temperature worldwide, often linked to droughts, floods, heatwaves and disruptions in agriculture.

The most recent El Niño, which lasted from May 2023 to March 2024, contributed to 2024 being recorded as the hottest year on record.

The latest update predicts a “rapid warming trend” between May and July, with higher-than-normal temperatures likely across regions including southern North America, Central America, the Caribbean, Europe and northern Africa.

However, rainfall impacts remain uncertain in some areas, including parts of North America, due to mixed signals in current forecasts.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has also projected a rising likelihood of El Niño developing in the coming months, with estimates ranging above 60 per cent through mid-year and a smaller chance of a stronger event later in the year.

A revised outlook from the World Meteorological Organisation is expected in late May.

The Met Office said rain with strong winds is likely in Zhob, Ziarat, Chaghi, Nushki, Khuzdar, Chaman, Sherani, Qila Abdullah and Qila Saifullah, along with surrounding areas.

It added that dry conditions will continue in most parts of Quetta during the day.

Meanwhile, recorded temperatures showed Quetta at 29°C, Kalat at 2°C, Ziarat at 27°C, Zhob at 30°C, Sibi at 41°C, Turbat at 43°C, Nokundi at 41°C, Chaman at 32°C, Gwadar at 38°C and Jiwani at 35°C.

Rain is expected in most districts from April 16 to April 19, including Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Talagang and Gujranwala.

Showers have also been forecast for Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Sargodha, Mianwali, Sheikhupura, Gujrat, Khushab and Mandi Bahauddin, while Lahore, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Jhang, Chiniot, Bhakkar, Layyah, Rajanpur, Noorpur Thal and Dera Ghazi Khan are also likely to receive rain.

The PDMA said all commissioners and deputy commissioners had been alerted on the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

Citizens have been advised to remain in safe places and avoid open areas during lightning.

Farmers have been urged to take precautionary measures in view of the weather conditions, while tourists have been advised to exercise caution when travelling to northern areas.

According to a report in the Guardian, the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu, widely seen as one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, will host a dedicated leaders’ event as part of the lead-up to the climate summit.

The meeting will be held alongside a broader pre-COP gathering in Fiji scheduled for October.

Turkey’s climate minister, Murat Kurum, who will preside over the COP31 summit, announced the plans in a letter to international partners.

The main conference is set to take place in Antalya, Turkey, on November 11-12 under a joint arrangement between Ankara and Canberra.

Kurum expressed strong confidence in Australia’s Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Chris Bowen, who will play a central role in overseeing negotiations.

He said both sides were committed to working closely to advance climate action, strengthen resilience, and accelerate the global shift toward clean energy.

Efforts to prepare for the summit are taking place against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions and energy market disruptions, particularly linked to the Middle East.

Speaking during a visit to Canberra, Germany’s State Secretary for Environment and Climate Action, Jochen Flasbarth, warned that global conflicts should not divert attention from the urgency of tackling climate change.

He emphasised the need to speed up electrification across key sectors, including transport, industry, and households, describing it as critical to reducing emissions.

Flasbarth suggested that the ongoing Middle East conflict, where shipping through the crucial Strait of Hormuz is facing challenges, could prompt countries to move away from fossil fuels.

Germany, where renewable energy now accounts for about 60% of supply, has been working to phase out coal by 2038.

However, recent disruptions linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have led to some coal-fired plants being brought back into operation temporarily.

Officials said that the COP31 meeting will focus on building consensus and driving practical action, with dialogue among nations playing a central role.

A youth climate champion has also been appointed as part of efforts to broaden engagement in the process.

The PDMA said the deaths, reported since March 20, include five men and eleven children, mostly due to collapsing roofs and walls amid heavy rainfall and flooding.

The injured include one man, four women and eleven children.

According to the report, Zhob recorded the highest number of deaths with six, followed by three in Loralai, two in Kech, and one each in Qila Abdullah, Daki, Kohlu, Jafarabad and Kachhi.

The report added that 161 houses were affected across the province, with 34 destroyed and 127 partially damaged.

At least 65 livestock, mainly sheep, also died due to the rains, while authorities said a detailed assessment of losses is still underway.

Rains have been continuing intermittently in the province for the past 11 days, causing widespread destruction in areas including Abbottabad, Bannu, North Waziristan, Lakki Marwat, Havelian, Nowshera, Jamrud and Bara.

According to reports, 25 houses were destroyed while 115 houses were partially damaged due to the ongoing rains.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has expressed concerns over the possible eruption of upper glacial lakes and has issued an alert to the administrations of five districts.

Other notable rainfall included 26 mm in Sibi, 21 mm in Lasbela, 14 mm in Barkhan, 10 mm in Quetta, 7 mm in Dalbandin, and 6 mm each in Khuzdar and Zhob. Turbat received 3 mm, and Mara received 1 mm.

Snowfall was reported on mountain peaks in cold regions, including Ziarat and Quetta, leading to a drop in temperatures.

The rains and snowfall have made the weather colder, particularly in northern districts.

The Meteorological Department forecasts that this series of rains will continue for the next one to two days.

Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds and isolated thundershowers is expected in Zhob, Musikhel, Sherani, Sibi, Kohlu, Barkhan, Dera Bugti, Jhal Magsi, Nasirabad, Harnai, Loralai, Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Noshki, Mastung, Kalat, Panjgur, Turbat, Kech, Awaran, Gwadar, Pasni, Ormara, Lasbela, Khuzdar, Kharan, Chagai, Dalbandin, and surrounding areas.

Heavy rain and hailstorms are expected in the northeastern districts of the province.

Strong westerly wind systems are causing a flood situation in several districts, including Bannu, Tank, Lakki Marwat, and Dera Ismail Khan.

Other districts, including North and South Waziristan, Kurram, Karak, Orakzai, and Kohat, have also been affected by heavy rain.

The Met Office warned of urban flooding in low-lying areas of Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, and Charsadda.

Rivers and canals in Mansehra, Abbottabad, Swat, Dir, and Chitral may also overflow, it stated.

District administrations have been alerted, and citizens are instructed to take precautionary measures to ensure safety.

According to the Meteorological Department, around ninety percent of the province experienced rainfall: Zhob 19 mm, Barkhan 15 mm, Kalat 13 mm, Quetta 10 mm, Sibi 9 mm, Khuzdar 7 mm, Turbat 6 mm, Pishin and Chaman 5 mm, Dalbandin, Nokundi, and Gwadar 2 mm.

Light showers were reported in Muslim Bagh, Ormara, Panjgur, Noshki, and Lasbela.

The rains have increased cold in northern districts including Quetta and Ziarat. The Meteorological Department predicts this spell may continue until April 4.

Two children died and five people were injured in lightning strikes and other incidents.

Crops on 1,400 hectares have been damaged.

Torrential rain closed communication roads in Harnai and Qila Abdullah, with restoration work underway.

Repair work on the 18-inch gas pipeline destroyed three days ago in Quetta’s Mustafa Abad area began yesterday and is expected to be completed by tonight.

Hailstorms are also expected in some areas during this period, it added.

According to the department, Karachi recorded a minimum temperature of 22.7°C on Tuesday and humidity at 4 per cent.

The maximum temperature is expected to reach between 30°C and 32°C, the department said and forecast partly cloudy and pleasant conditions for the city.

Balochistan braces for rain, hail

The Meteorological Department also forecast partly cloudy weather for most districts of Balochistan, with rain, gusty winds, and thunderstorms expected in several areas on Tuesday.

Districts likely to see rain include Barkhan, Kohlu, Musa Khel, Loralai, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, and surrounding regions.

Heavier rainfall accompanied by hail is also possible in Zhob, Sibi, Kohlu, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Harnai, and other nearby districts.

Residents have been advised to remain cautious due to the possibility of localised flooding and storm-related hazards.

According to the PDMA, rains are expected in Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Talagang, and Gujranwala, as well as in Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Sargodha, Mianwali, Sheikhupura, Gujrat, Khushab, and Mandi Bahauddin.

Major cities, including Lahore, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Jhang, Chiniot, Bhakkar, Layyah, and Dera Ghazi Khan, are also expected to experience rainfall, the PDMA added.

A PDMA spokesperson highlighted a possible increase in the flow of rainwater drains in Dera Ghazi Khan and the Suleman Range.

In line with the Punjab chief minister’s instructions, alerts have been issued to commissioners, deputy commissioners, district administrations, and rescue agencies for precautionary measures.

Citizens are advised to stay in safe locations to avoid lightning.

Tourists visiting northern areas should take precautionary measures, the PDMA added.

The PDMA also warned of a risk of landslides in mountainous regions and urged the public to contact helpline 1129 in case of emergencies.

Incidents of roof and wall collapse were reported in many districts, including Abbottabad, Bannu, North Waziristan, Lakki Marwat, Havelian and Nowshera.

Nine houses were destroyed, while 51 others suffered partial damage.

Authorities have warned that the rains, expected to continue till April 4, may trigger the bursting of upper glacial lakes.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued alerts to the administrations of five affected districts.

Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and take precautionary measures amid ongoing rainfall and potential flooding.

The Met Office predicted that a westerly wave is likely to approach the southwestern parts of Balochistan on April 1 and likely to persist till April 4.

Under the influence of this weather system, it said, Balochistan’s Panjgur, Turbat, Gawadar, Ormara, Quetta, Khuzdar, Chaghi, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, and other districts will receive rain-wind and thunderstorm (with isolated heavy falls/hailstorm) with occasional gaps during this period.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Mardan, Peshawar, Charsadda, Kohat, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Dera Ismail Khan and Waziristan districts will also experience precipitation from April 1 to 4. Heavy falls and hailstorms are also likely at isolated places in the province during the period, the PMD stated.

It forecast that rain will batter Islamabad and Punjab’s different districts, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mianwali, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Khushab, Sialkot, Multan, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal and Bahawalnagar from April 1 (night) to April 4 with occasional gaps. Heavy falls are also likely in Dera Ghazi Khan and surrounding areas during the said period, it is maintained.

Rain-wind/thunderstorm (snowfall over the mountains) is expected in Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir as well during the period, the weather advisory department stated.

In Sindh, the Met Office forecast, rain-wind/thunderstorm (with isolated hailstorm) is expected in Karachi, Thatta, Badin, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Dadu, Tharparkar and other districts from April 2 to 4 with occasional gaps.

The PMD has warned that landslides may occur in vulnerable areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir during the period.

Due to heavy rains, flash floods are expected in northeast Balochistan’s Khuzdar, Awaran, Kharan, Kalat, Mastung, Kohlu, Lasbela, Zhob, Qilla Saifullah, Qilla Abullah and Sherani. Hill torrents may hit Dera Ghazi Khan.

Windstorm/ hailstorm and lightning may damage weak structures, including electric poles, billboards and solar panels, during the forecast period, the department added.

Hailstorm/windstorm may damage standing crops in Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh. Farmers are advised to manage their crops according to the prevailing weather conditions.

Tourists and travellers are advised to remain extra cautious and avoid unnecessary travel during the forecast period.

The PMD said daytime temperatures are likely to decrease during the forecast period as the weather system is likely to continue after April 4.

The weather department advised all concerned authorities to remain vigilant and take necessary measures to avoid any untoward situation.

According to the NDMA, strong winds, dust storms and widespread rain are likely in many areas.

Snowfall is expected in the upper and mountainous regions of Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The authority said rain is expected in Islamabad, Murree, Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Gujar Khan, Gujrat and Gujranwala.

Thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds are also expected in Hafizabad, Sialkot, Mandi Bahauddin and Lahore.

Rain is also expected in Khushab, Sargodha, Jhang, Faisalabad, Kasur, Okara, Bahawalpur, Burewala, Multan, Dera Ismail Khan, Narowal, Chiniot, Nankana Sahib, Pakpattan and Sahiwal.

In addition, rainfall is expected in Haripur, Swabi, Nowshera, Mardan, Charsadda, Kohat, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Astore, Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Rawalakot, Haveli, Poonch, Kotli, Neelum Valley, Quetta, Zhob, Ziarat, Qila Saifullah, Pishin, Chaman, Kohlu, Duki and Harnai.

The NDMA also warned of thunderstorms and gusty winds in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Mingora, Battagram, Peshawar and Abbottabad.

It stated that strong winds, lightning and possible hailstorms could damage weak structures, trees and power lines.

The authority warned that continuous rainfall in mountainous areas may increase the risk of landslides.

All provincial and district authorities have been directed to remain on high alert and take necessary precautions to deal with the expected weather conditions.

Islamabad and its surroundings will remain dry with partly cloudy skies, as will most districts of Punjab, Sindh and the rest of Balochistan.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will also see partly cloudy conditions, while Kashmir may experience rain and thunderstorms during the morning hours, and Gilgit-Baltistan will remain partly cloudy and dry.

During the last 24 hours, rain accompanied by windstorms and thunderstorms struck northern Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Kashmir, while partly cloudy conditions prevailed across most other parts of the country, the department reported.

Cherat recorded the highest rainfall in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 33 millimetres, followed by Parachinar with 25mm, Malam Jabba with 11mm, and Peshawar Airport and city with 8mm and 7mm respectively.

Saidu Sharif received 7mm, Lower Dir 6mm, and Kakul 5mm, with Takht Bai, Balakot, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan also recording measurable precipitation.

In Punjab, Chakwal led with 16mm of rainfall, followed by Joharabad with 14mm and Layyah with 8mm. Islamabad Airport recorded 7mm, while city stations including Zero Point, Saidpur, Golra and Bokra received 2mm each. Sheikhupura recorded 7mm, Attock and Hafizabad 6mm each, and Kot Addu 5mm. Sargodha, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Bhakkar each received 3mm. Balochistan saw Ormara recording 19mm, Barkhan 17mm, Zhob 8mm and Gwadar 3mm. In Azad Kashmir, Kotli received 6mm, Muzaffarabad 5mm, Garhi Dupatta 5mm and Rawalakot 1mm.

Mithi in Sindh recorded the highest temperature of the day at 37 degrees Celsius, followed by Shaheed Benazirabad at 36 degrees and both Hyderabad and Tando Jam at 35 degrees.

Karachi remained the warmest major city with a high of 33 degrees and a low of 24 degrees, while Lahore touched 30 degrees and Islamabad reached 27 degrees.

Murree was the coldest among major stations with temperatures ranging between 4 and 14 degrees, followed by Skardu at 5 to 17 degrees and Quetta at 10 to 18 degrees.

Heavy rains are expected to persist over the next two days in districts such as Quetta, Kharan, Khuzdar, Kech, Panjgur, Awaran, Chagai, Noshki, Ziarat, Chaman, Zhob, Musakhel, and Barkhan.

Strong winds, thunderstorms, and hail are forecast in Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Pishin, Harnai, Kalat, Mastung, Sibi, Gwadar, Jiwani, Pasni, and Ormara.

Temperature readings for today include: Quetta 22°C, Kalat 20°C, Ziarat 14°C, Zhob 16°C, Sibi 33°C, Turbat 33°C, Nokundi 32°C, Chaman 18°C, Gwadar 30°C, and Jiwani 31°C.

Residents are advised to take necessary precautions and remain alert during the ongoing inclement weather.

DG PDMA Salman Shah said Karachi, Thatta, Badin, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Dadu, Kashmore, Jacobabad, and Larkana could be affected.

Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah chaired a meeting instructing Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, and Assistant Commissioners to remain in the field for the next seven days to ensure full preparedness.

PDMA staff have been directed to stay on high alert with necessary machinery ready, while district administrations and local bodies have been ordered to mobilise fully, ensure drainage systems are functional, and take emergency measures to maintain traffic flow.

Authorities have also been instructed to remove dangerous billboards vulnerable to rain and strong winds, and to run public awareness campaigns to inform residents about potential hazards.

Citizens are advised to avoid unnecessary travel, and farmers have been urged to take precautions to protect crops.

The department said rain accompanied by strong winds and thundershowers is expected during the afternoon in districts including Kharan, Khuzdar, Kech, Panjgur, Awaran, Chagai, Noshki, Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Harnai, Kalat and Mastung.

Hailstorms are also expected at some places.

The maximum temperature recorded today was 20°C in Quetta, 21°C in Kalat, 12°C in Ziarat, 14°C in Zhob, 34°C in Sibi, 32°C in Turbat and Nokundi, 17°C in Chaman, and 30°C in coastal areas including Gwadar and Jiwani.

The World Meteorological Organisation report said 2015-2025 were the hottest ​11 years since records began in ​1850.

2025 was either the second or third ⁠hottest on record, the WMO State of the ​Global Climate report said, at about 1.43 degrees ​Celsius above the pre-industrial average.

This confirms an earlier report from the WMO that 2025 was one of the three ​hottest years on record.

Glacier mass loss at key ​sites was among the five worst on record, the ‌report ⁠said, with exceptional declines reported in Iceland and North America.

“The state of the global climate is in a state of emergency. Planet Earth ​is being ​pushed beyond ⁠its limits. Every key climate indicator is flashing red,” said United Nations ​Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The report also confirmed ​that ⁠2024 was the hottest year at about 1.55 degrees C above the pre-industrial average.

Governments pledged under ⁠the ​2015 Paris Agreement to try ​to avoid exceeding 1.5 degrees C of global warming.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), showers are also possible on Eid-ul-Fitr.

On Saturday, rain accompanied by thunder and lightning is expected in the outskirts of the city, while bright and sunny weather is forecast for the city on Friday.

The PMD noted that the ongoing rainfall has reduced the intensity of the heat across Karachi, providing temporary relief from the sweltering conditions.

In Punjab, Chiniot and Rajanpur experienced pleasant weather due to the showers.

Sindh saw rain in Larkana and Gambat, while icy winds in Haripur and Karak in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa made the weather cold, prompting people to wear warm clothing again.

The Meteorological Department has forecast intermittent rainfall across these provinces over the next few days.

Deputy Director Anjum Nazir said westerly winds will affect Karachi from tomorrow, with moderate to heavy rainfall expected in the city.

Hail is also possible in different districts of Sindh on March 18 and 19.

The Meteorological Department urged farmers to take precautions and manage crops according to the upcoming weather conditions.

The ​quake had a ‌depth ⁠of 15 ​km (9.3 ​miles), ⁠EMSC said.

Temperatures in Galiyat have fallen below the freezing point.

The Meteorological Department predicts rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds over the next 24 hours.

• Heavy rains ​triggered a series ​of landslides in different parts ⁠of the Gamo Zone.
• As ​of last Thursday, authorities had confirmed ​70 deaths.
• On Sunday, the South Ethiopia regional government gave a ​higher death toll of ​125.
• More than 11,000 people have been ‌displaced, ⁠the regional government’s communications office said in a statement on its Facebook ​account.
• Prime Minister ​Abiy ⁠Ahmed visited the scene of the landslides ​on Saturday to ​console residents and pledged government support, according ⁠to ​a post on ​his X account on Saturday.

The Meteorological Department has forecast intermittent rain over the next 24 hours.

The residents enjoyed the sudden drop in temperature and rainy conditions.