A tragic accident struck Ethiopia on Wednesday morning with the collapse of the makeshift scaffolding during a major religious celebration, killing at least 22 worshippers and leaving 55 others injured.
The incident occurred at about 7:45 am in Arerti, a town located roughly 70 kilometres east of Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.
Pilgrims had gathered in their hundreds for an annual festival in honour of the Virgin Mary, one of the most important feasts in Ethiopia’s Orthodox Christian calendar.
According to local official Atnafu Abate, the scaffolding had been erected to accommodate worshippers and provide additional space during the packed festival.
However, it gave way without warning, sending people tumbling into the debris. “Many pilgrims were killed or sustained physical injuries,” Abate confirmed in a statement to the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene, where rescue efforts were complicated by the sheer volume of wood and rubble.
Witnesses reported scenes of panic as survivors scrambled to help those trapped beneath the wreckage. Some of the critically injured were transferred to hospitals in Addis Ababa for urgent treatment.
Photographs released by state media showed piles of collapsed wooden poles amid a dense crowd, with distressed onlookers gathering outside the church.
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Other images highlighted how precariously the scaffolding had been set up, raising questions about safety standards.
The disaster has once again drawn attention to Ethiopia’s weak enforcement of health and safety regulations.
Despite rapid urban development and widespread construction, building standards remain poorly regulated.
Construction site accidents, ranging from scaffolding failures to collapsed buildings, are frequently reported across the country.
Observers say this incident highlights how unsafe practices extend beyond construction projects into temporary structures used for large public events, including religious festivals that draw thousands of people.
The Virgin Mary festival, celebrated annually across Ethiopia, is one of the pillars of the nation’s Orthodox Christian faith.
Ethiopia is home to one of the oldest Christian traditions in the world, tracing its Christian roots back to the fourth century, when the Axumite Empire declared it a state religion.
Churches and monasteries across the country draw large crowds during such feasts, particularly in rural towns like Arerti, where facilities are often overstretched.
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