What was supposed to be a joyous, celebratory occasion ended in immense tragedy when a truck carrying dozens of wedding guests fell into a river. The incident, which took place in the Sidama state of Ethiopia, happened on December 29, 2024.
Wedding guests often hire trucks in Ethiopia because they are more affordable and carry more people than buses. Authorities say the truck fell off the Gelan Bridge while other reports claim the truck missed the bridge entirely. The death toll is steep at 71 people, with four more in critical condition at a local hospital.
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Of the known casualties, 68 were men and three were women, BBC reports. Most people on the truck were men because culturally, men are required to transport the bride from her home to the groom’s house, according to the Associated Press.
Because the village is remote, it took longer for first responders to arrive and help people. Until help arrived, local residents tried to save the passengers with sticks and ropes. They were no match for the river.
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When medical attention did arrive, many of the victims had already died. Images from the state health bureau show bodies, some covered in tarps, lying on the ground.
Two more people died in the Bona General Hospital, AP reported. The passengers who were in need of more intense medical intervention were transferred to a bigger hospital in Hawassa.
A resident of the area, Serak Boko, said that before the crash, the truck was blasting music as people, dressed in suits, were dancing and waving. Traffic police believe the truck’s overcrowding was to blame for the accident. In addition to the images of the victims, there are also photos of nearby residents attempting to retrieve the vehicle from the river.
Another resident, Wosenyeleh Simion, said that some families lost multiple members in the crash. Authorities are still investigating the events that led to this tragedy.
According to AP, people in rural Ethiopia commonly use trucks instead of buses for social events. They are less expensive and carry more people. Still, in Ethiopia thousands are killed each year in road accidents.
“The area always has regular accidents around the river as it is poorly constructed,” resident Fasil Atara told AP, referencing the lack of speed bumps and warning signs for drivers.
