At least 71 people killed in Ethiopia road accident

30/12/2024 15:30

At least 71 people died in Ethiopia when a truck packed with passengers plunged into a river, according to the spokesperson for the southern Sidama regional government and a statement.



The accident occurred in the Bona district, the regional communication bureau said in a statement issued late on Sunday.



Wosenyeleh Simion, spokesperson for the Sidama regional government, told Reuters on Monday at least 71 people had died, including 68 males and 3 females.



He said, "Five are in a critical condition and taking treatment at Bona General Hospital."



In a statement late on Sunday the regional communication bureau had given the death toll as 60.



Wosenyeleh said the truck had missed a bridge and fell into a river and that the road had many bends.



Some of the passengers were returning from a wedding ceremony and some families had lost multiple members, he said, adding traffic police in the region had reported the truck was overloaded, which likely caused the accident.



The state-run Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) also reported that the passengers were travelling to a wedding when the accident occurred on Sunday.