At least 31 people have been killed and 33 others injured after an overcrowded bus plunged into a ravine in Ethiopia’s northern Amhara region.
The bus was travelling from the Dessie area to the capital, Addis Ababa, early Monday when it veered off the road along the treacherous Harego “S” section near Kombolcha and fell into a steep gorge.
According to the Kombolcha Town Administration Police Division, the vehicle was carrying more passengers than it could safely accommodate at the time of the crash.
“The vehicle fell off a cliff, killing 31 people, including the driver, while 33 others sustained serious and minor injuries,” Muhiye told state media, revising an earlier death toll of 28.
Authorities said the exact cause of the crash is still under investigation, although poor road conditions, reckless driving, and poorly maintained vehicles are common factors in similar accidents.
Road crashes are frequent in Ethiopia. In 2024, at least 71 people died when a truck plunged into a river in the southern Sidama region.