31 dead, 33 injured as overloaded bus plunges into Ravine

At least 31 people have been confirmed dead and 33 others injured after an overcrowded passenger bus veered off a mountainous road and plunged into a deep ravine in Ethiopia, authorities have said.

The tragic accident occurred on Monday as the bus was travelling from Dessie to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, according to reports from local authorities and state media.

Officials said the vehicle lost control on a dangerous stretch of road before plunging approximately 330 feet into a gorge, killing dozens of passengers instantly. The driver was among those who lost their lives in the crash.

Commander Getachew Muhiye confirmed that 33 survivors sustained varying degrees of injuries, ranging from minor wounds to critical conditions.

The injured victims were evacuated to hospitals in Dessie and Kombolcha for emergency treatment.

Authorities disclosed that rescue efforts were hampered by the remote location of the accident and the lack of adequate emergency response infrastructure in the area.

The UK Sun reports that many victims reportedly succumbed to their injuries before reaching medical facilities due to delays in evacuation and the absence of readily available ambulance services. Local vehicles were used to transport several of the injured to hospitals.

The crash occurred along a winding route that cuts through hilly terrain and is widely regarded as one of the most hazardous roads in the region.

Images released by regional authorities showed the severely damaged wreckage of the bus at the bottom of the ravine, while aerial photographs highlighted the sharp bends and steep drops that characterise the roadway.

Investigators have launched a probe into the circumstances surrounding the accident, including possible mechanical failure, speeding and overloading.

Road accidents remain a major challenge in Ethiopia, where poor road conditions, inadequate safety infrastructure and reckless driving have contributed to a high number of fatal crashes over the years.

The latest tragedy comes less than two years after one of the country’s deadliest road accidents in recent history, when a bus carrying wedding guests plunged into a river in the southern Sidama region in December 2024, killing 71 people.

In another incident in September 2024, at least 28 people lost their lives and 19 others were seriously injured after a bus crashed into a river in the Wolaita area of southern Ethiopia.

Monday’s crash has renewed concerns about road safety standards and emergency response capacity in parts of the East African nation, as authorities continue efforts to reduce the frequency of deadly transportation disasters.