At least 71 people killed in Ethiopia road accident

A motortruck packed with passengers plunged into a stream successful Sidama state, determination authorities said.

At slightest 71 radical person died successful a roadworthy mishap successful confederate Ethiopia, according to section authorities.

A motortruck packed with passengers plunged into a stream successful Sidama state, immoderate 300km (186 miles) southbound of Ethiopia’s superior Addis Ababa, the determination connection bureau said successful a connection precocious connected Sunday.

In a Facebook post, the Sidama Police Commission Traffic Prevention and Control Directorate said “68 males and 3 females are known to person died successful the mishap truthful far”, quoting Chief Inspector Daniel Sankura.

Wosenyeleh Simion, the spokesperson for the Sidama determination government, besides confirmed to the Reuters quality bureau that 71 radical had died.

“Five are successful a captious information and taking attraction astatine Bona General Hospital,” Wosenyeleh added connected Monday.

In it’s connection precocious connected Sunday the determination connection bureau had fixed the decease toll arsenic 60, besides adding that survivors were being treated astatine Bona General Hospital.

Blurred images shared by the Sidama Regional Health Bureau showed a wide of radical surrounding a vehicle, partially submerged successful water, with galore seemingly attempting to assistance propulsion it from the waters.

Other images shared by the bureau appeared to amusement bodies, immoderate covered successful bluish tarpaulin, lying connected the ground.

The wellness bureau expressed its condolences to the families of the victims of the clang and said it would stock much accusation later.

The constabulary committee said the incidental occurred astatine astir 5:30pm section clip (14:30 GMT) connected Sunday erstwhile the conveyance plunged into a river.

Wosenyeleh told Reuters the motortruck had missed a span and fell into a stream and that the roadworthy had galore bends.

Some of the passengers were returning from a wedding ceremonial and immoderate families had mislaid aggregate members, helium said.

He added that postulation constabulary successful the portion reported the motortruck was overloaded, which apt caused the accident.

Authorities did not supply details astir the fig of passengers who were connected committee astatine the clip of the accident.

Road accidents are communal successful Ethiopia, Africa’s second-most populous nation, wherever roads are often poorly maintained.

At slightest 38 people, mostly students, were killed successful 2018 erstwhile a autobus plunged into a ravine successful Ethiopia’s mountainous north.