Map of Ethiopia's Amhara region. (Courtesy).

Media reports have indicated heavy fighting is continuing between Ethiopian troops and local militias across large parts of the Amhara region.

Local residents are cited by the BBC as saying heavy weaponry is being used while civilians are feared trapped.

The fighting occurs just after the Ethiopian government headed by Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed claimed that the turmoil in the region has been contained.

BBC understands that communications blackouts have been imposed, making it difficult to confirm the details of the violence.

The Ethiopian government announced a state of emergency in August, when the Fano militia refused to hand over its weapons.

In that fighting, dozens of South Sudanese nationals and students on scholarship studies in the region said they were fearing for their lives and appealed for urgent evacuation as fighting intensified between local militia group and the Ethiopian army.

South Sudan’s former ambassador to Ethiopia James Pitia Morgan (now the foreign minister), said the South Sudan embassy in Addis Ababa was working closely with the host government about ensuring the safety of the scholars caught in the middle of the conflict.