ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — A tragic incident in southern Ethiopia resulted in the loss of at least 66 lives after a truck fell into a river, according to the director of a local hospital on Monday.

The mishap occurred on Sunday when an aging, overcrowded truck, hired to transport wedding attendees, veered off the Gelan Bridge. Villagers noted that the area has a history of traffic accidents.

Lemma Lagide, the medical director at Bona General Hospital located in the Sidama region, reported that 64 individuals lost their lives at the scene, while two others succumbed to their injuries after being admitted to the hospital.

He also indicated that patients requiring advanced critical care were transferred to a larger medical facility in Hawassa.

Rescue operations experienced delays in the remote village, which contributed to the high fatalities. Residents described their attempts to assist those trapped in the tumultuous waters using only sticks for support.

A villager named Serak Boko shared that prior to the tragedy, there were festive sounds emanating from the truck, with people dressed in formal attire dancing and celebrating.

In rural Ethiopia, it is a common practice for locals to hire trucks instead of buses for transportation to social gatherings like weddings, as they are often more affordable and can accommodate larger groups. Most of the passengers on board were men, who traditionally accompany the bride from her home to that of the groom.

Resident Fasil Atara highlighted that the area is notorious for frequent accidents near the river due to its inadequate construction, mentioning the absence of safety bumps and warning signs.

Ethiopia’s infrastructure challenges and the prevalence of overcrowded public transport have led to similar tragedies in the past. For instance, in August, 38 individuals lost their lives when a bus overturned in the Amhara region.