At least 25 people have been confirmed dead after a church under construction collapsed in Ethiopia’s Amhara region on Wednesday, October 1.
The tragic incident occurred early in the day at Menjar Shenkora Arerti Mariam Church, located in northern Ethiopia, where worshippers had gathered to celebrate the annual St. Mary feast.
According to Seyoum Altaye, a clinician at a nearby hospital, the dead included children and elderly worshippers.
“So far, we have confirmed 25 dead and over a hundred injured,” he said, adding that the hospital has requested urgent assistance from the Red Cross to manage the influx of patients.
Local authorities fear the death toll could rise as rescue operations continue. Teshale Tilahun, the area’s administrator, described the collapse as a devastating blow to the community. “It is a tragic loss for the community,” he said.
The incident has drawn parallels with previous church disasters, including the 2016 collapse of the Reigners Bible Church roof in Uyo, Nigeria, which killed more than 160 people.
Emergency teams are still at the site, working to recover victims and provide medical care to the injured.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.
CNN.