The death toll from a tragic road accident in southern Ethiopia has climbed to 71, according to local authorities. The Sidama Police Commission reported that the accident occurred on Sunday at approximately 5:30 pm local time (1430 GMT) in Sidama state, about 300 kilometres south of the capital, Addis Ababa.
Chief Inspector Daniel Sankura of the Sidama Police Commission’s Traffic Prevention and Control Directorate confirmed in a Facebook post that 68 men and three women had lost their lives.
The incident took place in Bona Zuria Woreda in the Eastern Zone of Sidama when the vehicle veered off the road and plunged into a river. Two other individuals sustained severe injuries, the post added, though details on the total number of passengers were not provided.
Images shared by local health authorities depicted harrowing scenes, with crowds of people gathered around a partially submerged vehicle as others worked to retrieve it from the river. Some images also showed rows of bodies on the ground, covered in blue tarpaulin.
Road accidents are a frequent occurrence in Ethiopia, where poorly maintained infrastructure and risky driving conditions contribute to high fatality rates. The incident underscores ongoing concerns about the need for improved road safety measures in the country.
