At least 71 people have died in a tragic road accident in southern Ethiopia, where a truck packed with passengers plunged into a river in Sidama state, some 300km south of the capital Addis Ababa. The regional communication bureau announced the death toll in a statement late on Sunday, with the Sidama Police Commission Traffic Prevention and Control Directorate confirming that 68 males and three females were among the victims. Survivors of the accident were being treated at Bona General Hospital, with five individuals in critical condition according to Wosenyeleh Simion, the spokesperson for the Sidama regional government.
Blurred images shared by the Sidama Regional Health Bureau depicted a chaotic scene with a vehicle partially submerged in water and people attempting to assist in the aftermath of the accident. The health bureau conveyed its condolences to the families of the deceased, while also noting that more information would be shared at a later time. The incident occurred at about 5:30pm local time on Sunday when the overloaded truck missed a bridge and fell into the river, as revealed by Wosenyeleh to Reuters. Some of the passengers were returning from a wedding ceremony, with some families facing the loss of multiple members.
Authorities did not disclose the exact number of passengers on board the ill-fated vehicle, but the police commission indicated that the road where the accident occurred had many bends. The likelihood of overloading played a significant role in causing the tragic incident, as reported by traffic police in the region. Road accidents are a common occurrence in Ethiopia, where the roads are often poorly maintained, leading to a higher risk of accidents. This is not the first major accident in the country, as previously in 2018, at least 38 people, primarily students, lost their lives when a bus plunged into a ravine in Ethiopia’s mountainous north.
The Sidama regional government expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the tragic accident and shared updates through social media platforms. The spokesperson for the regional government, Wosenyeleh Simion, confirmed the death toll and highlighted the critical condition of some survivors receiving treatment at Bona General Hospital. The images shared by the regional health bureau depicted the grim aftermath of the accident, with bodies covered in blue tarpaulin and individuals attempting to assist in the rescue efforts. The incident has left a deep impact on the local community, especially those families who have lost loved ones in this devastating accident.
As investigations into the cause of the accident continue, authorities are focusing on improving road safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. With the high prevalence of road accidents in Ethiopia, there is a pressing need for enhanced infrastructure and stricter regulations to ensure the safety of passengers and vehicles on the roads. The local government has vowed to take appropriate actions to address the underlying factors that contribute to such tragedies, including overloading and poor road conditions. The tragic loss of lives in this accident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of road safety and the need for concerted efforts to prevent avoidable accidents in the future.
