Tragedy struck in southern Ethiopia as at least 66 individuals lost their lives when a truck veered off the Gelan Bridge and plunged into a river. The incident occurred on Sunday when an old and overcrowded truck, hired by wedding guests, met with a fatal accident. The medical director at Bona General Hospital in the Sidama region confirmed that 64 people perished at the scene, with two more succumbing to their injuries at the hospital.
Due to the remote location of the village, rescue efforts were delayed, leading to a high number of casualties. Villagers recounted their attempts to save the victims using only sticks in the absence of proper equipment. Eyewitnesses mentioned that just before the accident, the truck was filled with music, and passengers, dressed in suits, were joyfully dancing and waving.
In rural Ethiopia, it is a common practice to hire trucks for social events like weddings due to their affordability and capacity to carry a large number of people. The majority of the passengers on the ill-fated truck were men, as tradition dictates that they accompany the bride from her home to the groom's residence.
Residents in the area expressed concerns about the poor road infrastructure, particularly around the river, citing the lack of safety measures such as speed bumps and warning signs. This tragic incident adds to a series of similar accidents in Ethiopia, where inadequate infrastructure and overcrowded public transportation have previously resulted in loss of lives. In a separate incident in August, 38 individuals lost their lives when a bus overturned in the Amhara region.
