At least 30 worshippers have been confirmed dead and more than 200 others injured after scaffolding collapsed during a church service in Ethiopia.
The incident occurred on Sunday morning at the Arerti Mariam Church in the Minjar Sheknora district, about 70 kilometres from the capital, Addis Ababa. Thousands of Orthodox Christians had gathered at the church for the annual feast of St. Mary when the structure suddenly gave way.
According to police inspector Ahmed Gebeyehu, the victims were aged between 25 and 80, and the death toll is expected to rise as many more remain trapped under the rubble. Rescue operations are still underway.
Eyewitnesses recounted the scene as chaotic and terrifying, with worshippers scattering in panic when the wooden structure collapsed. Some of the critically injured victims have been transferred to Addis Ababa for advanced medical treatment.
In a statement carried by the state-run Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation, the government expressed “deep condolences for the damage caused by the collapse of the scaffolding” and stressed the need to prioritize safety in all construction projects.
Health and safety regulations remain poorly enforced in Ethiopia, and construction-related accidents are said to be frequent across the country.
Source: BBC
