A tragic accident struck Ethiopia on Wednesday, where at least 36 people were killed and more than 200 others injured during a religious festival in the country’s central region.
Collapse During Festival
The disaster occurred when wooden scaffolding collapsed inside the partially constructed Arerti St. Mary Church in Minjar Shenkora Woreda, located in the Amhara region. The structure gave way under the weight of worshippers attending the festival, local police confirmed.
Police commander Ahmed Gebeyehu said the number of casualties may rise, as several of the injured remain in critical condition.
Eyewitness Accounts
“It was the collapse of the scaffolding that caused the damage. It simply crushed the people beneath it. Some on the sides managed to escape, but those in the middle were lost,” said Tadesse Tesfaye, a survivor of the tragedy.
Aftermath of the Disaster
The day after the incident, shoes and sandals belonging to the victims were seen piled on the ground near the fallen wooden beams. The damaged structure lay scattered beneath the newly painted church dome, serving as a grim reminder of the deadly collapse.
Ongoing Response
Authorities and emergency services are continuing rescue and medical efforts, while the community mourns the victims of what is being described as one of the deadliest accidents at a religious gathering in Ethiopia in recent years.
Meta description (Yoast SEO): At least 36 killed and 200 injured after scaffolding collapsed inside a church in Ethiopia’s Amhara region during a religious festival.
