At least 71 people have tragically lost their lives after a lorry carrying wedding guests plunged into a river in southern Ethiopia. The incident occurred on Sunday in the Sidama region, when the vehicle missed a bridge and fell into the water below, according to local officials. The accident has shocked the country, highlighting the deadly consequences of road safety violations in a region where traffic accidents have become an all-too-common occurrence.
Wosenyeleh Simion, a local official, confirmed that many of the victims were wedding guests, with the group reportedly traveling to or from a celebration. The lorry, which was significantly overloaded, was not able to navigate the area safely. Traffic police indicated that the vehicle’s weight may have contributed to the tragedy, making it more prone to losing control. Investigations into the exact cause of the crash are still ongoing.
Among the confirmed fatalities, 68 were men and three were women, with the death toll expected to rise as more bodies are recovered. Emergency responders, including local authorities and medical personnel, worked swiftly to retrieve the bodies from the river and assist the surviving victims. Disturbing images shared on social media platforms, including by the state health bureau, show the harrowing scenes of rescue efforts. One image depicts a group of people attempting to pull the damaged lorry from the water, while others show bodies covered with blue tarpaulins lying on the ground. The graphic nature of these images has left many Ethiopians shaken, as the scale of the tragedy begins to sink in.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of road safety in Ethiopia, where accidents have become a major public health crisis. Over-speeding, overcrowding, and negligence regarding traffic laws are frequent causes of such incidents. Authorities are now facing increased pressure to address the country’s road safety issues, especially as the number of fatalities in road accidents continues to rise each year.
In Sidama, as well as other regions of Ethiopia, local communities are grieving the loss of friends, family members, and loved ones. The wedding party, which should have been a time of celebration, has instead become a symbol of the country’s struggle with road safety challenges. As authorities investigate the cause of the crash, many are calling for more stringent enforcement of traffic laws to prevent further loss of life on Ethiopia’s roads.
