Mon Dec 30 05:43:10 UTC 2024: ## 71 Dead in Ethiopia Truck Accident
**ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (December 30, 2024)** – At least 71 people perished in Ethiopia on Sunday when an overloaded passenger truck plunged into a river, according to officials. The accident occurred in the Bona district of the Sidama region.
The Sidama regional government spokesperson, Wosenyeleh Simion, confirmed the death toll, specifying that 68 men and 3 women lost their lives. Five individuals remain in critical condition at Bona General Hospital. An initial report from the regional communication bureau had placed the death toll at 60.
The truck, reportedly carrying passengers returning from a wedding, missed a bridge and fell into the river. Mr. Simion attributed the accident to the truck being overloaded and the road’s numerous bends. Several families reportedly lost multiple members in the tragedy.
The Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation corroborated the account, stating the passengers were wedding attendees. Deadly traffic accidents are frequent in Ethiopia due to poor driving standards and inadequate vehicle maintenance. A similar incident in 2018 resulted in the deaths of 38 students when a bus crashed in the mountainous north.
First Piper 