The death toll from a tragic road accident in southern Ethiopia has climbed to at least 71, according to local authorities.
In a statement posted on Facebook late Sunday, the Sidama Police Commission Traffic Prevention and Control Directorate reported that 68 men and three women had lost their lives in the accident. Chief Inspector Daniel Sankura confirmed the figures.
The incident occurred at approximately 5:30 pm local time (1430 GMT) in Sidama State, around 300 kilometers (180 miles) south of Addis Ababa. The vehicle veered off the road and plunged into a river in the Eastern Zone’s Bona Zuria Woreda.
The police noted that two individuals sustained severe injuries but did not provide details on the total number of passengers onboard.
Images shared earlier by local health authorities depicted somber scenes of the aftermath. In one, a crowd gathered around the vehicle, partially submerged in the river, attempting to recover it. Other photos showed bodies laid on the ground, some covered with blue tarpaulins.
Ethiopia, Africa’s second-most populous country, frequently experiences road accidents due to poorly maintained roads and vehicles. The high casualty rate underscores the urgent need for improved infrastructure and stricter traffic regulations.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident as families and communities mourn this devastating loss.
