In southern Ethiopia, a tragic accident occurred when an old, overcrowded truck carrying wedding guests plunged into a river off the Gelan Bridge, resulting in at least 66 deaths. Most of the victims were men, as they culturally escort the bride to the groom’s house. The medical director of Bona General Hospital reported that 64 died at the scene and two others at the hospital, with those in critical condition being transferred to a larger hospital in Hawassa. Villagers, who often use trucks for affordable transport to events, blamed delays in rescue efforts for the high casualty rate, as they struggled to save people using sticks.

Accidents are common in rural Ethiopia due to poor infrastructure and overcrowded public transport. Resident Fasil Atara noted the lack of safety measures on the poorly constructed roads around the river, which frequently sees such tragic incidents. In August, another major accident occurred when a bus rolled over in the Amhara region, killing 38 people. The combination of inadequate road conditions and the use of unsafe transport methods highlights ongoing safety issues in the region.

Comments (0)

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *