A passenger bus carrying more passengers than allowed met with a catastrophic accident in northern Ethiopia, leaving at least 31 people dead and dozens injured, police confirmed.
The accident occurred early Monday as the bus was traveling toward the capital, Addis Ababa, but veered off the road and plunged into a ravine about 100 meters (330 feet) deep. The bus had departed from the town of Dessie in the Amhara region, an area known for roads considered among the most dangerous in the world.
The accident happened on a winding mountain road called Harego, surrounded by dense forest. Images from social media showed the bus severely damaged, shattered, and leaning on its side on a hillside.
According to the Associated Press (AP), some victims died because rescue efforts arrived too late. Poor health infrastructure and a lack of ambulance services forced people to find their own way to treatment centers, worsening injuries.
Ethiopia is one of the countries with the worst road traffic accident rates globally. This East African nation is known for its dangerous roads, and official statistics show worsening road safety.
Road traffic fatalities more than doubled in the 12 years from 2007 to 2018. A United Nations report concluded that a lack of traffic signs and road markings poses a serious safety risk.
Earlier, in December 2024, 71 people died when a truck they were riding in fell into a river in the Sidama region of southern Ethiopia.
