At least 22 people lost their lives and 55 others were injured on Wednesday when scaffolding collapsed at a church in Arerti, a town about 70 kilometres east of Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa.
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The tragedy happened around 7:45 a.m. during the annual Virgin Mary festival, which had drawn large groups of pilgrims to the church. Witnesses said worshippers were caught under the wooden structure when it suddenly gave way.
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Local authorities confirmed that some of the more seriously injured victims were moved to hospitals in Addis Ababa for urgent treatment. Others were treated in nearby health centres.
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Images shared on state broadcaster platforms showed piles of broken wooden poles and large crowds at the scene, while pictures of the church revealed a poorly constructed scaffolding setup.
Officials did not immediately say how many people may still be trapped or if rescue efforts were ongoing.Ethiopia, one of the world’s oldest Christian nations, has a long history of large religious gatherings.
However, safety regulations in the country remain weak, and construction-related accidents are common.The disaster struck during one of the most important religious events in the town, turning what should have been a day of worship and celebration into a national tragedy.
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