At least 71 people have died after a vehicle carrying a wedding party plunged into a river in southern Ethiopia, local authorities confirmed. The incident occurred on Sunday evening in Sidama state, about 300 kilometers south of Addis Ababa.
The truck, overloaded with 76 passengers including wedding attendees and day-laborers, veered off a tight bend near a bridge and crashed into the river. Officials said the riverbed’s large stones contributed to the devastating impact, killing most passengers, including the driver.
“The accident claimed 68 men and three women, including four members of the same family,” said Wossenyeleh Simon, a regional communications official in an AFP report. Five survivors were rescued, with two hospitalized in serious condition and three discharged, though suffering psychological trauma.
Rescue operations were swiftly initiated with support from nearby hospital staff, but images shared by local health authorities revealed the grim aftermath, showing bodies and the partially submerged truck being retrieved from the water.
Authorities believe the truck may have exceeded its passenger capacity due to a shortage of transport vehicles that day.
Road accidents are frequent in Ethiopia, often caused by poorly maintained roads and overloaded vehicles. Earlier this year, a similar incident in the country’s south resulted in 28 deaths when a bus swerved into a river.
Africa continues to struggle with a high rate of road fatalities, driven by inadequate infrastructure and limited safety measures, according to the World Health Organization.
