At least nine people were killed and 5,000 others displaced as the Awash river in northeastern Ethiopia burst its banks last week, flooding six communities in Dubti district. The victims were reportedly swept away as they tried to flee to Dubti, news organisations reported. The pro-government WALTA website quoted the secretary of the district council Assawuka Mohammed as saying that about 5,000 inhabitants of Yahle, Detbahri, Tangakuma and several other communities were stranded because of flooding. More than 500 workers were also displaced from flooded camps at the Tendaho commercial farm, where a cotton plantation on 500 hectares was damaged by floods. Other news organisations put the figures of the displaced up to 30,000. Ethiopian radio at the weekend announced that some 1,400 residents of Dubti had been evacuated in two helicopters and that the remaining people were being supplied with medical and food assistance.
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