At least 52 civilians have died after three days of intense clashes around Alamata in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region, according to hospital sources cited by the BBC.
Government forces appear to have recaptured the town from regional fighters, with reports suggesting they could advance towards Mekelle, the regional capital.
Videos circulating online reportedly show military tanks deployed along Alamata’s streets.
The latest violence follows months of growing tensions between Ethiopia’s federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which governs the region.
Both sides have accused each other of breaching a 2022 peace agreement that ended a two-year conflict.
The unrest has also spread into neighbouring areas, leaving 33 foreign visitors stranded in Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Amhara region.
A British tourist told the BBC that residents and visitors had heard gunfire and artillery throughout the week.
He said a significant military presence remained in Lalibela, which is renowned for its medieval rock-hewn churches and religious importance to Orthodox Christians.
Commercial flights from the town’s airport were suspended last Wednesday, preventing most tourists from leaving.
Fourteen Israeli nationals were reportedly evacuated by military helicopter on Monday, while five others departed earlier with an NGO convoy.
The violence near Lalibela has involved federal troops and an Amhara militia that has joined forces with Tigrayan combatants.
Earlier this month, the groups formed an alliance with other armed organisations, declaring their intention to challenge the government in Addis Ababa.
The conflict has also raised concerns about possible Eritrean involvement. Ethiopian authorities have accused Eritrea of backing armed groups, while Asmara has rejected the allegation.
Communications across Tigray have been disrupted, making it difficult to independently verify developments. The government and TPLF have offered conflicting accounts of how the latest confrontation began.
The TPLF claims it responded to a federal military operation that included drone attacks, while authorities maintain that Tigrayan forces initiated hostilities after taking control of several airports.
Fighting has also been reported in the Afar region, an important corridor linking Ethiopia with Djibouti and its strategic ports.
Medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières said more than 700 injured people had been treated at hospitals it supports across Tigray in recent days.
A doctor at Alamata General Hospital told the BBC that Saturday-to-Monday clashes involved heavy artillery and explosives, with some strikes hitting residential buildings. Children, mothers and livestock herders were among those reportedly killed.
The medic said 12 people died in a single attack on a marketplace.
The deteriorating security situation has also disrupted banking, electricity, telecommunications and money-transfer services in Tigray.
Residents displaced from surrounding communities have reportedly crowded into Alamata seeking safety, but many are struggling to access basic services.
The banking restrictions have affected people outside the region as well, with some Tigrayans reporting that accounts opened in the area have been frozen or limited.
Meanwhile, the Tigray Broadcasting Service has launched an initiative to help families separated by the communications blackout.
Relatives outside the region can submit video messages through its Telegram channel, which will then be broadcast via satellite television.
In Lalibela, the stranded visitors have reported some improvement in security, although cash remains scarce and military personnel continue to occupy the town.
The British tourist said there were signs the airport could resume operations, while a larger military convoy had reportedly moved north from Lalibela.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong