The tragedy occurred at the Arerti Mariam Church in Minjar Sheknora, about 70 kilometers (45 miles) from the capital, Addis Ababa, where thousands of Orthodox Christian worshippers had gathered to mark the annual feast of St. Mary.
Police inspector Ahmed Gebeyehu told reporters that the victims were aged between 25 and 80 and warned the death toll could rise as rescue operations continued.
“Many people are still believed to be trapped under the rubble,” Gebeyehu said.
“The sound of the collapse was loud and terrifying. People were running in all directions trying to save their lives,” one attendee recalled.
Local officials confirmed that some of the severely injured have been transferred to hospitals in Addis Ababa for further treatment.
In a statement carried by the state-run Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation, the government expressed condolences to the victims’ families and stressed the importance of prioritizing safety standards in construction.
Construction accidents are not uncommon in Ethiopia, where health and safety regulations are poorly enforced.
