Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited Kencho Shacha Gozdi, a village hit by a deadly landslide, where over 250 people died.
The remote village is about 480 kilometers from Addis Ababa.
Officials are working to determine the total death toll after heavy rain triggered a landslide on Sunday, engulfing the locality.
The UN’s OCHA reported 257 deaths, with the missing count still unknown.
Accompanied by his wife and other leaders, Abiy planted a tree at the local cemetery.
The south Ethiopia regional state office shared the visit on social media, highlighting the tragedy.
Ethiopia is prone to climate-related disasters.
Most victims were buried while helping after the initial landslide, which was followed by subsequent slides, officials said.
Parliament declared three days of mourning from Saturday.
The region faced severe seasonal rains causing flooding and displacement, reflecting the broader climate challenges impacting over 21 million Ethiopians.