A devastating road accident in Ethiopia's Sidama Region has claimed the lives of at least 66 people, with four others sustaining injuries. The incident occurred on Sunday at the Gelana Bridge in the Bona Zuria Woreda district, approximately 300 kilometers (180 miles) south of Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. Local health authorities confirmed the tragic news on Sunday, with international outlets such as Reuters, The Guardian, and The Express Tribune reporting the event on Monday.

According to preliminary reports, the accident involved a bus that veered off the Gelana Bridge, leading to the massive loss of life. Sidama Regional Health Bureau announced the casualty figures in a statement posted on its official Facebook page, noting that rescue efforts were immediately initiated. Despite this, the bureau refrained from providing detailed information about the circumstances leading to the accident or the total number of passengers aboard the ill-fated bus.

Photographs shared by the health bureau showed the wreckage of the bus partially submerged in water, surrounded by crowds of onlookers and rescue workers. Many locals could be seen attempting to retrieve the vehicle from the river, offering assistance in the recovery efforts. The bureau extended its condolences to the families of the victims and assured that additional details regarding the tragedy would be released in due course.

Road accidents are a persistent issue in Ethiopia, the second most populous country in Africa. Poor road maintenance, combined with lax enforcement of traffic regulations, has made such incidents all too common. While specific details about the cause of the accident remain scarce, the tragedy underscores the broader challenges the country faces in ensuring road safety.

The health bureau’s brief statement offered no insights into the mechanical condition of the bus or the driving circumstances that led to the crash. However, eyewitness accounts suggest that the vehicle lost control before plunging into the water below the bridge. Those injured in the accident were transported to nearby medical facilities for treatment, though their conditions have not been disclosed.

Ethiopia’s road infrastructure, especially in rural and semi-urban areas, often suffers from inadequate upkeep and poor signage. Combined with driver fatigue and overloading, these factors contribute to a high incidence of road traffic fatalities. According to statistics from local authorities and international organizations, Ethiopia records thousands of road traffic accidents annually, making it a pressing public health and safety issue.

This latest tragedy has prompted widespread mourning across the Sidama Region and beyond, with government officials and community leaders calling for immediate action to improve road conditions and enforce stricter safety measures. Despite ongoing efforts to modernize Ethiopia's transportation networks, the pace of reform has been slow, and such devastating accidents serve as grim reminders of the work that remains to be done.

While the full details of the Gelana Bridge accident are yet to emerge, the loss of life has brought renewed focus to the urgent need for improved road safety measures in Ethiopia. The victims’ families, communities, and the nation as a whole mourn the loss of 66 lives in what has become yet another tragic chapter in the country’s ongoing road safety crisis.