A minimum of 66 individuals have died after a truck plunged right into a river in southern Ethiopia, a hospital director mentioned Monday.
The accident happened Sunday when an previous, overcrowded truck that was contracted by wedding ceremony company fell off the Gelan Bridge, the place villagers mentioned traffic crashes have occurred earlier than.
IN ETHIOPIA, AT LEAST 183 KILLED IN 2 MONTHS DUE TO CONFLICT IN AMHARA REGION, UN SAYS
The medical director at Bona Common Hospital within the southern Sidama area, Lemma Lagide, informed The Related Press on Monday that 64 individuals died on web site and two others on the hospital.
He mentioned these sufferers in want of extra refined essential care had been transferred to an even bigger hospital in Hawassa.
Delays in rescue efforts within the distant village had been blamed for the excessive variety of casualties. Villagers mentioned they tried to save lots of individuals from the raging river solely with sticks.
This undated {photograph} exhibits the Ethiopian flag. (Bildagentur-online/Common Photos Group by way of Getty Photos)
A villager, Serak Boko, informed AP that moments earlier than the accident, music was blasting out of the truck and other people wearing fits had been dancing and waving.
It’s common for individuals in rural Ethiopia to rent vehicles as an alternative of buses to move them to social events like weddings as a result of they’re extra inexpensive and carry many individuals. Most of these on the truck had been males as a result of they’re culturally required to escort the bride from her residence to the groom’s home.
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“The realm all the time has common accidents across the river as it’s poorly constructed,” mentioned resident Fasil Atara, referring to the street missing bumps and warnings.
With desolate infrastructure and overcrowded public transportation, Ethiopia has had related accidents prior to now. In August, 38 individuals died after a bus rolled over in Amhara area.
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