In a tragic road accident, a freight truck carrying 76 wedding guests and other passengers in the Sidama region of southern Ethiopia veered off a bridge and into a river. The incident occurred on Sunday, December 29, 2024, resulting in the death of 71 people. This accident is one of the deadliest road mishaps Ethiopia has experienced this year.
The accident took place at around 5:30 p.m. local time, when the overloaded truck fell off the Gelan bridge in Bona Zuria Woreda, Ethiopia. This area lies approximately 186 miles to the south of Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa. The vehicle missed the bridge while trying to negotiate a series of sharp turns.
“The accident was especially horrific as the river had a lot of big stones, so most passengers, including the driver, were killed due to the impact,” said Wossenyeleh Simion, a spokesperson from the regional communications department. The rocky riverbed at the crash site significantly contributed to the high number of fatalities.
Of the 76 individuals on board, 68 men and three women lost their lives. “Among the deceased are four people from the same family,” added Simion. The vehicle was carrying wedding guests and local residents when it lost control on the bend.
According to a local, Serak Boko, loud music was playing from the truck, and people in suits were dancing and enjoying themselves moments before the accident.
Simion reported that five individuals were taken to Bona General Hospital in critical condition. Two of them are still hospitalized with severe injuries, while three have been discharged, though they are still dealing with psychological trauma.
Local residents responded quickly, entering the river and using ropes to try to pull the overturned vehicle out of the water. However, the truck was stuck firmly in the riverbed, making rescue efforts more challenging. Pictures from the scene show bystanders trying to help the victims, with bodies covered in tarpaulins lying on the ground.
This calamity underscores the serious transportation issues in rural Ethiopia. Due to a lack of adequate public transportation infrastructure, trucks are often used to transport large groups to social events. Many of the male passengers were following a cultural tradition of escorting the bride.
The remote location of the accident and the limited availability of emergency resources made the rescue efforts difficult. Initially, local first responders only had basic tools for the recovery operation. The high number of casualties is attributed to both poor road construction and the lack of nearby critical care facilities.
According to the locals, the area around the Gelan Bridge has seen several traffic accidents. The road lacks essential safety features like speed bumps and warning signs, making it particularly dangerous for larger vehicles.
Ethiopia has a history of severe road accidents. Another tragic event happened in the Wolayita Zone on September 24, 2024, when a bus traveling from Wolaita Sodo to the Dawro Zone fell into a river, causing 28 deaths and 19 injuries. The injured are receiving intensive medical treatment in nearby healthcare facilities, and authorities caution that the death toll could rise due to the severity of some injuries.
In 2018, a bus fell into a ravine in the country’s mountainous northern region, resulting in 38 fatalities, most of whom were students. The country’s road safety issues are exacerbated by poorly maintained vehicles and inadequate infrastructure.
