VIDEO: Tragedy in Ethiopia as 36 dead, over 200 injured in church scaffolding collapse

CAIRO – 3 October 2025: A painful tragedy unfolded in central Ethiopia when a wooden scaffolding broke apart during a religious festival, claiming the lives of at least 36 people and injuring more than 200, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing police and a survivor.

The accident occurred inside the partially built Arerti St. Mary’s Church in Minjar Shenkora Woreda, North Shewa Zone of the Amhara Region, where worshippers had gathered for celebrations.

The temporary structure collapsed under the weight of the crowd, local police chief Ahmed Gebeyehu told state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting.

Gebeyehu cautioned that the fatality figures may rise, as several of the injured remain in critical condition.