A devastating accident in southern Ethiopia claimed the lives of at least 66 people on Sunday when a truck carrying wedding guests plunged into a river. The incident occurred at the Gelan Bridge, a site known for previous accidents, according to local villagers. The aging truck, filled beyond capacity, fell from the bridge into the river below.
Lemma Lagide, medical director at Bona General Hospital, confirmed the death toll, reporting 64 fatalities at the scene and two more at the hospital. Patients requiring advanced care were transferred to a larger facility in Hawassa. Rescue efforts in the remote area were hampered, contributing to the high number of casualties. Villagers described desperate attempts to save lives using only sticks to reach those in the raging river.
Eyewitness Serak Boko recounted the moments before the tragedy, describing music and dancing from the truck filled with people in festive attire. Hiring trucks for transportation to social gatherings, like weddings, is a common practice in rural Ethiopia due to their affordability and capacity. The truck was predominantly carrying men, fulfilling the cultural custom of escorting the bride to the groom's home.
Local resident Fasil Atara highlighted the area's history of accidents, attributing them to the poorly constructed road and lack of safety features like warning signs or speed bumps. Ethiopia's underdeveloped infrastructure and overcrowded public transport have led to similar tragedies in the past, including a bus rollover in August that killed 38 people in the Amhara region.
