At least 30 people have been confirmed dead and more than 200 others injured after scaffolding collapsed during a major religious gathering in Ethiopia. The tragedy occurred at the Arerti Mariam church in the Minjar Sheknora area, about 70 kilometers from the capital Addis Ababa, during an Orthodox Christian celebration of St Mary.
Thousands of worshippers had gathered at the church for the annual festival when the structure gave way. Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with attendees scrambling to safety as the wooden scaffolding crashed down. Survivors reported hearing a deafening sound as the beams snapped, sending parts of the church structure collapsing onto the packed crowd.
Local officials indicated that many people remain trapped under the rubble, and rescue operations are still ongoing. Emergency workers and community volunteers have been working through the debris to search for survivors. Authorities warned that the death toll could rise further as more bodies are recovered.
The victims identified so far were aged between 25 and 80 years. Some of the severely injured have been transferred to hospitals in Addis Ababa for urgent medical treatment due to the extent of their injuries. Hospitals in the surrounding areas have also been placed on high alert to handle the influx of patients.
The incident has caused widespread grief across the country, as the celebration of St Mary is one of the most important events in the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian calendar. Families of the victims rushed to the site and hospitals in search of their loved ones, while community leaders and clergy called for calm as rescue efforts continue.
In a statement, authorities expressed deep condolences to the families affected and emphasized the importance of prioritizing safety in all construction and renovation projects. The collapse has renewed concerns about weak enforcement of health and safety regulations in Ethiopia, where construction accidents are frequent due to poor standards and lack of oversight.
Eyewitnesses stressed that the disaster struck suddenly, leaving no time for people to escape. Many described scenes of panic and confusion as worshippers attempted to flee the collapsing structure. Despite the rapid response of local emergency services, the scale of the disaster has overwhelmed resources.
As the country mourns, questions are being raised about how such a tragedy could have been prevented and what steps should be taken to strengthen building safety standards. The disaster stands as a stark reminder of the urgent need to prioritize public safety in Ethiopia’s construction sector.
