30 killed, 200 others injured in Ethiopia church construction collapse
According to witnesses, the collapse happened as many worshippers climbed onto the wooden scaffolding to view a ceiling mural.
At least 30 people were killed and more than 200 were injured on Wednesday when a wooden scaffolding collapsed at a church construction site in Ethiopia's Amhara region.
The incident, reports indicate, occurred at the Arerti Mariam Church in the Minjar Shenkora district of North Shewa Zone, where worshippers had gathered to commemorate the annual Virgin Mary festival, despite ongoing construction.
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According to witnesses, the collapse happened as many worshippers climbed onto the wooden scaffolding to view a ceiling mural.
Emergency teams subsequently rushed to the scene, with local hospitals quickly overwhelmed by the influx of patients.
"We all had gathered in prayer when all of a sudden the scaffolding collapsed and people started falling from the ceiling," a witness, Mikias Mebratu, who lost three of his friends, said at the scene.
The fatalities and injuries were later confirmed by police chief Ahmed Gebeyehu, who added that the death toll could rise since several of the injured persons were in critical condition, while others remained trapped under rubble.
Siyoum Altaye, the Acting Director of Arerti Hospital, told the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) that the facility and the Ethiopian Red Cross were treating victims, but six people with serious injuries had to be moved to larger hospitals for advanced treatment.
He added that more than 70 patients were still admitted at Arerti, while those with minor injuries were taken to nearby clinics. "It is a tragic loss for the community," he said.
Ethiopian authorities have asked for more doctors, nurses, and supplies to handle the large number of casualties.
Similarly, the Ethiopian Government Communication Service has since expressed condolences to the families of the dead and injured, pledging government support for ongoing rescue and medical efforts.
In its statement, the GCS stressed the urgent need to strengthen safety oversight at construction sites, warning that negligent enforcement of building standards puts both workers and communities at risk.
Formal Investigations have been launched to determine the exact cause of the collapse.
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