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Ethiopian truck crash kills dozens returning from wedding in Sidama region

A local spokesperson says the bus missed a bridge, before plunging into the river. (Supplied: Facebook/Sidama National Regional State Health Bureau)

In short:

At least 71 people have died in Ethiopia after a truck crashed into a river in the country's southern Sidama region, according to local authorities.

Wosenyeleh Simion, the spokesperson for the Sidama regional government, said that five more people are in a critical condition in hospital.

The truck had been returning from a wedding ceremony and missed a bridge, before plunging into the water, Mr Simion said.

At least 71 people have died in Ethiopia after a truck packed with passengers plunged into a river, according to authorities in the country's southern Sidama region.

Warning: This story contains graphic images

The accident happened in the Bona district, the regional communication bureau said in a statement issued late on Sunday, local time.

Wosenyeleh Simion, the spokesperson for the Sidama regional government, told Reuters on Monday, local time, that at least 71 people had died, including 68 males and three females.

Ethiopian truck crash kills dozens returning from wedding in Sidama region

Images from the crash appear to show first responders attempting to pull the vehicle out of water. (Supplied: Facebook/Sidama National Regional State Health Bureau)

"Five are in a critical condition and taking treatment at Bona General Hospital," he said.

Mr Simion said the truck missed a bridge and fell into a river, adding that the road had many bends.

Some of the passengers were returning from a wedding ceremony and some families had lost multiple members, he said, adding traffic police in the region had reported the truck was overloaded, which likely caused the accident.

Sidama state is in the south of Ethiopia, some 300 kilometres south of the capital Addis Ababa.

The Sidama Regional Health Bureau said earlier on Facebook that "a car accident has claimed the lives of 66 people so far".

The incident occurred in the Eastern Zone, at the Gelana bridge in the Bona Zuria district, according to the bureau.

"Four injured passengers are receiving medical treatment at the Bona General Hospital," it added.

Blurred images shared by the health bureau showed a mass of people surrounding a vehicle, partially submerged in water, with many seemingly attempting to help pull it from the waters.

Other images shared by the bureau appeared to show bodies, some covered in blue tarpaulin, lying on the ground.

The bureau expressed its condolences to the families of the victims of the crash, and said it would share more information later.

Ethiopian truck crash kills dozens returning from wedding in Sidama region

Images from the Sidama Regional Health Bureau appear to show first responders lining up the bodies of victims, amid crowds of onlookers. (Facebook: Sidama National Regional State Health Bureau)

The state-run Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) was first to report that the passengers were travelling to a wedding when the accident occurred.

Deadly traffic accidents are common in Ethiopia, where driving standards are poor and many vehicles badly maintained.

At least 38 people, mostly students, were killed in 2018 when a bus plunged into a ravine in Ethiopia's mountainous north.

AFP/Reuters

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