Khaberni - At least 36 people died and dozens were injured early Wednesday morning, following the collapse of temporary wooden scaffolding in a church in the Amhara region of northern Ethiopia, during a religious ceremony dedicated to the Feast of the Virgin Mary.
The collapse occurred in the morning in the town of Ararti, located about 70 kilometers east of the capital Addis Ababa.
Hundreds of pilgrims had gathered at the Menjar Shenkora Ararti Mariam Church to participate in the annual rituals, when the temporary scaffolding inside the perimeter of the church collapsed.
The regional police chief, Ahmed Ghbayehu, told local media that "the death toll has reached 36 and may rise," while reports indicated that the number of injured could reach 200.
A local official mentioned that some people are still trapped under the rubble, without providing details on the progress of the rescue operations.
He added that several victims with serious injuries were transported to hospitals in the capital Addis Ababa for treatment.
The administrative official of the region, Tesha Telahun, described the incident as a "tragic loss to the community", while images broadcasted by the official television showed scenes of chaos and intertwined wooden posts, while locals gathered around the site of the collapse.
