ADDIS ABABA – At least 15 people were killed and 27 others injured in a road accident in southern Ethiopia on Saturday evening, local authorities have confirmed.
The accident occurred when a transport bus lost control due to brake failure and overturned into a river in the Wolaita Zone of the South Ethiopia Regional State, leaving 15 people dead, according to state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate, which quoted local officials.
The accident also left 21 people with serious injuries and six others with minor injuries. Local officials said the injured are currently receiving medical treatment at nearby health facilities.
Although the East African country has one of the lowest per capita car ownership rates in the world, deadly traffic accidents are relatively common. The blame is often placed on poor road conditions, reckless driving, lax enforcement of safety regulations, and deficiencies in the driver’s licensing system.
XINHUA