At least 71 people have been confirmed dead in southern Ethiopia after a lorry plunged into a river, according to local officials.
The tragic incident occurred on Sunday in Sidama state when the vehicle missed a bridge and fell into the water, a local official reported.
Wosenyeleh Simion stated that many of the victims had been attending a wedding celebration.
Traffic police in the region indicated that the lorry was overloaded, which likely contributed to the fatal crash.
The Sidama Police Commission Traffic Prevention and Control Directorate reported that 68 of the victims were men and three were women. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Images shared on social media by the state health bureau show people attempting to retrieve the damaged vehicle from the river in the Bona district.
Other images depict bodies covered with blue tarpaulin lying on the ground.
Ethiopia faces high rates of road fatalities each year, with over-speeding and traffic law violations often cited as major causes.
Source-BBC
