ADDIS ABABA, July 26 -- The Ethiopian parliament on Friday declared a three-day national mourning for 257 citizens who lost their lives after deadly landslides hit a remote village in southern Ethiopia.

During the three-day national mourning period, starting from July 27, the country's flags will fly at half mast, the Ethiopian House of Peoples' Representatives, the lower chamber of the parliament, said in a statement on Friday.

"Expressing its grief to the citizens who lost their lives in the landslide accident that occurred in Kencho Shacha Gozdi village in southern Ethiopia's Geze Gofa District, the Ethiopian House of Peoples' Representatives has decided to declare a three-day national mourning while wishing comfort to relatives of the victims and all people of our country," the statement read.

According to local authorities, the first landslide incident struck the small remote village on Sunday night after hours of heavy rains. The second landslide happened Monday morning and buried an unknown number of local community members who gathered at the scene for rescue efforts.

At least 257 people have died due to multiple landslides, and the death toll could potentially reach up to 500, according to the latest situation update from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Search and rescue operations are currently ongoing under the leadership of federal and local authorities with the support from humanitarian agencies and local community members.

  - Xinhua