A tragic incident occurred in Arerti, Ethiopia, where a scaffolding collapse during a religious festival resulted in the deaths of 36 individuals at St Mariam Church. The disaster took place shortly after a celebration of the Orthodox Christian holiday, leading to mass funerals for the victims the following day.
During the event, many worshippers ventured onto the temporary scaffolding to view a newly painted mural on the church ceiling. Eyewitness Gebreweld Tesfaye explained that the wooden staircase was crowded when it gave way, leading to chaos as attendees attempted to flee or assist those trapped beneath the debris.
Among the mourners was Fikre Tilahun, a 22-year-old who lost his mother in the incident. He recounted his frantic search for her and ultimately discovered her body at a health center. The emergency services indicated that around 200 people were injured, with several in critical condition and some transferred to hospitals in Addis Ababa for treatment.
Despite the church being under construction, many gathered for the celebration, raising questions about safety protocols at such sites. The local government expressed condolences to the victims’ families and emphasized the importance of prioritizing safety in construction projects. Ethiopia has a history of construction accidents, often attributed to poorly enforced health and safety regulations.
As communities grieve, the implications of this tragedy extend beyond the immediate loss of life, highlighting ongoing challenges regarding public safety during construction in Ethiopia.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly6en6l141o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss