At least 66 people lost their lives after an overcrowded truck carrying wedding guests plunged into a river in southern Ethiopia. The tragedy occurred on Sunday when the vehicle fell off the Gelan Bridge in the Sidama region, an area notorious for traffic accidents due to poor road infrastructure.
Dr. Lemma Lagide, the medical director of Bona General Hospital, confirmed that 64 victims died at the scene, while two others succumbed to their injuries at the hospital. Patients requiring advanced care were transferred to Hawassa for treatment.
Local villagers blamed delays in rescue efforts for the high death toll, as they struggled to save passengers from the river using makeshift tools like sticks. One witness, Serak Boko, recounted seeing the truck filled with music and dancing guests moments before the accident.
Due to affordability, it is common in rural Ethiopia to use trucks for social gatherings like weddings. Most passengers were men, fulfilling cultural obligations to escort the bride from her home to the groom’s residence.
Resident Fasil Atara criticized the lack of safety measures around the Gelan Bridge, citing frequent accidents due to inadequate road construction and the absence of speed control mechanisms.
This incident highlights Ethiopia’s ongoing challenges with road safety and transportation. Just months earlier, 38 people died in a bus accident in the Amhara region.
