A truck carrying passengers plunged into a river in southern Ethiopia’s Bona district on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of at least 71 people, according to regional officials. The accident occurred when the vehicle missed a bridge and fell into the water due to an overloaded condition.
Spokesperson Wosenyeleh Simion confirmed the death toll, stating that 68 men and three women were among the victims. Five people are receiving critical treatment at Bona General Hospital. Some passengers were returning from a wedding ceremony when the accident occurred.
This incident is not an isolated case, as traffic accidents are common in Ethiopia due to poor driving standards and vehicle maintenance issues. A similar tragedy happened in 2018, where over 38 students lost their lives when a bus plunged into a ravine in the country’s mountainous north.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/30/africa/ethiopia-road-accident-deaths-intl/index.html