At least 66 people died after the truck landed in the river southern Ethiopiathe director of the hospital said on Monday.
The accident occurred on Sunday when an old, overcrowded truck carrying the wedding party fell off the Gelan Bridge, where villagers said traffic accidents happened before.
AT LEAST 183 KILLED IN ETHIOPIA IN 2 MONTHS DUE TO CONFLICT IN THE AMHARA REGION, UN SAYS
The medical director of Bona General Hospital in the southern region of Sidama, Lemma Lagide, told The Associated Press on Monday that 64 people died on the spot and two more died in hospital.
He said patients requiring more sophisticated critical care were transferred to a larger hospital in Hawassa.
Delays in rescue efforts in the remote village were blamed for the high number of casualties. Locals told how they tried to save people from the raging river with only poles.
This undated photo shows the Ethiopian flag. (Bildagentur-online/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Villager Serak Boko told AP that a few moments before the accident, music was blaring from the truck, and people dressed in suits were dancing and waving.
It is common for people in rural Ethiopia to hire trucks instead of buses for transportation to community places events like weddings because they are more accessible and transport many people. Most of those in the truck were men because they are culturally obliged to escort the bride from her home to the groom’s house.
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“There are always regular accidents around the river in that area because it’s poorly built,” said resident Fasil Atar, referring to the road that has no bumps or warnings.
With abandoned infrastructure and overcrowded public transport, Ethiopia has had similar accidents in the past. In August, 38 people died after a bus overturned in the Amhara region.
