The death toll from a tragic road accident in southern Ethiopia has risen to 71, according to the Sidama Police Commission. The accident occurred Sunday evening in Bona Zuria Woreda, Sidama State, approximately 300 kilometers south of Addis Ababa.
A police statement indicated that the vehicle veered off the road and into a river around 5:30 pm local time.
At least 68 men and 3 women were confirmed dead, with two others sustaining serious injuries. The exact number of passengers on board remains unconfirmed.
Graphic images circulating online, purportedly from the scene, show a vehicle partially submerged in water, surrounded by people attempting rescue efforts, and rows of bodies covered with blue tarpaulins.