At least 71 people have died in southern Ethiopia after a lorry carrying wedding guests veered off a road and fell into a river, local officials reported.
The tragic accident occurred on Sunday in Sidama state when the lorry missed a bridge and plunged into the water below, according to Wosenyeleh Simion, a regional official who spoke with Reuters. Many of the passengers on board had been attending a wedding celebration.
Traffic police in the region noted that the lorry was significantly overloaded, a likely factor in the incident. Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause.
Among the 71 fatalities, 68 were men and 3 were women, according to the Sidama Police Commission’s Traffic Prevention and Control Directorate.
Images shared on social media by the state health bureau reveal the aftermath of the disaster, showing locals attempting to retrieve the damaged vehicle from the river in the Bona district. Other photos depict bodies, some covered with blue tarpaulin, lying along the riverbank.
This latest tragedy underscores a broader issue in Ethiopia, where thousands die annually in road accidents. Authorities frequently attribute these incidents to over-speeding, overloading, and a disregard for traffic laws.
The Ethiopian government has pledged to address road safety concerns, but accidents like this highlight the urgent need for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations.
