Ofure Akhigbe
What began as a day of devotion in Ethiopia’s Amhara region ended in grief when scaffolding inside the historic Menjar Shenkora Arerti Mariam Church collapsed during a crowded religious celebration, killing at least 30 worshippers and injuring more than 200 others.
The tragedy struck on Thursday morning as thousands gathered for the annual feast of St. Mary. Witnesses said many worshippers had climbed onto temporary wooden scaffolding to get a better view of a ceiling mural when the structure suddenly gave way.
“We all had gathered in prayers when all of a sudden the scaffolding collapsed and people started falling from the ceiling,” recalled Mikias Mebratu, who lost three friends in the disaster.
Clinician Seyoum Altaye at a nearby hospital confirmed that the victims included both children and the elderly. “So far we have confirmed over 30 dead and over a hundred injured,” he said earlier in the day, warning that the toll was climbing as more casualties were rushed in. Medical teams have since appealed to the Ethiopian Red Cross for urgent support.
Rescue operations are stretching, with some worshippers believed to be trapped under the debris. Many of the injured were transferred to hospitals in Addis Ababa as overwhelmed local facilities struggled to cope.
Local administrator Teshale Tilahun described the collapse as “a tragic loss for the community,” while cautioning that the number of fatalities could rise further.
In a statement broadcast by state media, the Ethiopian government extended its condolences to grieving families and pledged tighter enforcement of safety standards in construction and renovation projects. “Safety must be given priority,” the statement read, as the nation mourned one of its deadliest religious gathering incidents in recent years.