Addis Ababa — Makeshift scaffolding arrange at a church in Ethiopia collapsed Wednesday, killing a minimum of 36 individuals and injuring greater than 200, state media stated. The incident occurred at round 7:45 a.m. native time within the city of Arerti, about 40 miles east of capital Addis Ababa, when a bunch was visiting for an annual Virgin Mary competition.
District police chief Ahmed Gebeyehu advised state media Fana: “The number of dead has reached 36 and could increase more”, including “more than 200 people have suffered injuries” and had been receiving therapy at a neighborhood hospital.
Some individuals remained beneath the rubble, native official Atnafu Abate advised the Ethiopian Broadcasting Company (EBC), with out giving additional particulars about these trapped or attainable rescue efforts.
He stated among the extra severely damage had been taken to hospitals within the capital.
Photographs shared on the EBC’s official Fb web page confirmed a large number of collapsed picket poles, with crowds gathering amid the dense particles.
Different photos appeared to indicate the surface of the church the place scaffolding had been precariously constructed.
A picture from Google Maps reveals the situation of the city of Arerti, about 40 miles east of the capital Addis Ababa, the place a scaffolding collapse at a church throughout a competition killed dozens of individuals on Oct. 1, 2025, based on state media.
Google Maps
A authorities assertion shared by EBC expressed condolences, and added that “safety must be given priority.”
Well being and security rules are just about non-existent in Ethiopia, Africa’s second most populous nation, and building accidents are frequent.
The sprawling nation is a mosaic of 80 ethnic teams and has one of many world’s oldest Christian communities.
Its predecessor, the Axumite Empire, declared Christianity the state faith within the fourth century.
Extra from CBS Information
