At least 71 people have died in a car accident in southern Ethiopia on Sunday (December 29th), as disclosed by the local government of Ethiopia. The accident involved a truck full of passengers plunging into a river, resulting in the deaths of most of the passengers onboard.
The spokesperson for the Sidama regional government stated that among the deceased were 68 men and 3 women, while 5 others are in critical condition and receiving treatment at a local hospital.
According to the spokesperson, the section of the road where the accident occurred had many turns, and the truck fell off a bridge into the river below. Villagers mentioned that accidents had occurred at the bridge in the past.
The government spokesperson also mentioned that some of the passengers had just attended a wedding ceremony, so many passengers were relatives, and the accident resulted in multiple families losing several members.
He further added that local traffic police reported that the truck was overloaded, which may have contributed to the occurrence of the accident.
Due to the remote location of the accident, rescue efforts were delayed, leading to a higher number of casualties. Villagers attempted to rescue people from the rushing river with sticks.
Some witnesses reported that shortly before the accident, music was heard from the truck and people were seen wearing suits, dancing, and waving their hands.
Other villagers mentioned that accidents are frequent in the area due to poor road construction and a lack of warning signs.
In rural Ethiopia, it is common practice to hire trucks instead of public buses for attending social events such as weddings, as trucks are cheaper and can accommodate more people. Most of the people on the truck were men, as it is a tradition in the country for male relatives to accompany the bride to the groom’s house.
Ethiopia has seen deadly traffic accidents occur frequently due to poor driving standards and inadequate vehicle maintenance.
In 2018, a bus accident in the northern mountainous regions of the country resulted in the deaths of at least 38 people, most of whom were students.
(This article drew upon reports from Reuters and the Associated Press)