A tragic truck accident in Ethiopia’s Sidama region claimed at least 71 lives when an overloaded vehicle carrying passengers plunged into a river in the Bona district, authorities confirmed.
According to Wosenyeleh Simion, spokesperson for the Sidama regional government, the victims included 68 males and 3 females. Five individuals remain critically injured and are receiving treatment at Bona General Hospital.
The accident occurred on a winding road when the truck missed a bridge, reportedly overloaded with passengers, some of whom were returning from a wedding. Families suffered devastating losses, with multiple members among the deceased.
Traffic police cited overloading as a likely factor in the accident. Ethiopia has a history of fatal road incidents due to poor driving standards and vehicle maintenance, including a 2018 bus accident that killed 38 people.