At least 30 Killed in Ethiopian Church Scaffolding Collapse

At least 30 people have been confirmed dead and more than 200 others injured after scaffolding collapsed at the Arerti Mariam church in Ethiopia during an Orthodox Christian celebration of St Mary. The tragedy occurred in Minjar Sheknora, about 70 km (45 miles) from the capital Addis Ababa, where thousands of worshippers had gathered in the early morning hours to take part in the annual religious event.

According to police inspector Ahmed Gebeyehu, the death toll could rise further as rescue teams continue searching for survivors trapped beneath the rubble. The victims, aged between 25 and 80, were among the massive crowd that had assembled at the historic church when the wooden scaffolding suddenly gave way. Eyewitnesses described the collapse as terrifying, with loud cracks followed by chaos as attendees scrambled to escape.

“A large section of the church collapsed — the sound of the wooden structure giving way was loud and terrifying,” one witness told the BBC, adding that many people were caught beneath falling beams. Emergency teams rushed to the site, transferring the most severely injured victims to hospitals in Addis Ababa for specialized treatment.

In a statement broadcast on state-run Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation, the government expressed “deep condolences for the damage caused by the collapse of the scaffolding,” emphasizing that safety must always be prioritized in construction projects. Authorities acknowledged that many buildings in Ethiopia lack rigorous safety oversight, and poorly enforced regulations have contributed to recurring construction-related accidents.

The collapse has once again highlighted Ethiopia’s urgent need to strengthen health and safety standards, particularly during large public gatherings where temporary structures are used. With the Orthodox Church being central to the cultural and spiritual identity of millions of Ethiopians, the annual St Mary celebration typically draws huge crowds, magnifying the risks when infrastructure fails.

Families of victims are mourning their loved ones, while communities across the country are calling for accountability and swift reforms to prevent future tragedies.