A disastrous traffic incident involving a wedding celebration has resulted in significant loss of life in Ethiopia, sparking concerns over road safety regulations.
Tragic Accident Claims Lives of Wedding Guests in Ethiopia
Tragic Accident Claims Lives of Wedding Guests in Ethiopia
Catastrophic lorry crash in Sidama region leaves 71 dead, investigations ongoing
At least 71 individuals, primarily wedding guests, tragically lost their lives in southern Ethiopia after a lorry crashed into a river while navigating the Sidama region. According to local authorities, the vehicle fell into the water after missing a bridge during its journey on Sunday. Wosenyeleh Simion, a regional official, stated that many of the deceased were attending a wedding party at the time of the incident.
Traffic police investigations revealed that the lorry was overloaded, which is believed to have contributed to the catastrophic accident. The Sidama Police Commission's Traffic Prevention and Control Directorate confirmed that of the confirmed fatalities, 68 were men and 3 were women.
Images circulated on social media show emergency responders attempting to rescue a damaged vehicle from the river and recover bodies of victims, with some covered in tarpaulin, from the disaster site in Bona. Road safety continues to be a pressing issue in Ethiopia, where thousands die annually due to traffic incidents, often attributed to reckless driving and traffic law violations.
Ethiopia's roads remain perilous, shedding light on the necessity of improved enforcement of safety measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
