ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — At least 66 people died after a truck plunged into a river in southern Ethiopia, a hospital director said Monday.
The accident occurred on Sunday when an old, overcrowded truck carrying wedding guests fell off the Gelan Bridge. Villagers reported that traffic crashes have happened at this location previously.
The medical director at Bona General Hospital in the southern Sidama region, Lemma Lagide, told The Associated Press on Monday that 64 people died at the scene and two others succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.
He said that patients requiring more advanced critical care were transferred to a larger hospital in Hawassa.
Delays in rescue efforts in the remote village contributed to the high number of casualties. Villagers described attempting to save people from the raging river using only sticks.
A villager, Serak Boko, told AP that moments before the accident, music was blaring from the truck, and people dressed in suits were dancing and waving.
In rural Ethiopia, it is common for people to hire trucks instead of buses for transportation to social events like weddings. Trucks are often more affordable and can accommodate larger groups. Most of the passengers on the truck were men, as cultural norms dictate that they escort the bride from her home to the groom’s house.
“The area has a history of frequent accidents around the river due to the poorly constructed road,” said resident Fasil Atara, noting the lack of speed bumps and warning signs.
With inadequate infrastructure and overcrowded public transportation, Ethiopia has experienced similar tragedies in the past. In August, 38 people died after a bus overturned in the Amhara region.
