36 Dead, 200 injured as church structure collapses during Ethiopian festival

(Web Desk): At least 36 people were killed and more than 200 injured when an under-construction structure collapsed during a religious festival in central Ethiopia.

The tragedy occurred at Menjar Shenkora Arerti Maryam Church in the Arerti area, where a large number of worshippers had gathered to participate in the annual Virgin Mary Festival. The church was still under construction, and a temporary wooden scaffold inside the structure collapsed under the weight of the crowd, causing the fatal accident.

The district’s police chief, Ahmed Gebiyo, told the state broadcaster Fana Broadcasting that 36 people have been confirmed dead, and several of the injured are in critical condition, raising fears that the death toll may rise.

An eyewitness, Tadesse Tesfaye, said: “When the scaffolding collapsed, it crushed the people beneath it. Some who were near the edges managed to escape, but those in the middle were killed.”

The scene after the collapse was chaotic, with shoes, sandals, broken wooden poles, and debris scattered everywhere. The twisted remains of the scaffold could still be seen under the church’s dome.

According to local official Atnafu Abate, some individuals remain trapped under the rubble, while the severely injured have been transported to hospitals in the capital, Addis Ababa.

Local administrator Teshale Tilahun described the incident as “a great tragedy for the entire community.” Rescue operations are still ongoing, and authorities have launched a full investigation into the incident.