An overcrowded passenger bus traveling through northern Ethiopia plunged into a deep ravine, killing at least 31 people on board.
The vehicle veered off a notoriously perilous mountain road early Monday morning while en route toward the capital city, Addis Ababa.
Local police confirmed that the bus tumbled nearly 100 meters down a forested cliffside near the town of Dessie.
Images circulating on social media revealed the shattered remains of the vehicle scattered violently along the base of the hillside.
Emergency personnel reported that 33 survivors sustained various injuries and were transported to local hospitals for urgent medical attention.
The tragic accident occurred along an S-shaped stretch of road known as Harego, an area infamous for dangerous driving conditions.
Delayed medical responses contributed significantly to the high fatality count, as several passengers succumbed to their injuries waiting for aid.
The country lacks adequate ambulance services, forcing some wounded survivors to coordinate their own transportation to distant trauma centers.
Traffic specialists repeatedly point to poor infrastructure and an absence of road signs as primary catalysts for regional transport disasters.
Official United Nations evaluations indicate that road safety across Ethiopia has steadily deteriorated, with accident numbers rising dramatically over recent years.
This latest catastrophe echoes a horrific incident from late 2024, when a truck plunged into a river, claiming 71 lives.