31 killed in Ethiopia after overcrowded bus plunges into ravine

While the exact cause of the crash remains under investigation, the hilly stretch of highway where the vehicle went off the road is widely known to be hazardous.

In Short

• The bus was travelling from Dessie to Addis Ababa early Monday
• Police said the vehicle left a notorious winding road in Amhara
• Emergency response was delayed by missing ambulances and weak local infrastructure

At least 31 people have died, and dozens more are injured following a bus crash in Ethiopia’s northern Amhara region early Monday morning.

The tragedy occurred when an overcrowded bus travelling from the Dessie area to the capital, Addis Ababa, veered off a notorious, winding road and plunged into a steep ravine, according to the Kombolcha Town Administration Police Division.

The local infrastructure deficit severely compounded the disaster. A lack of basic emergency services and ambulances in the conflict-hit region caused critical delays in response times, forcing rescue workers to transport the injured to medical facilities using ordinary public vehicles. Officials noted that many of the victims died while waiting for medical help.

While the exact cause of the crash remains under investigation, the hilly stretch of highway where the vehicle went off the road is widely known to be hazardous.

Fatal traffic accidents are a recurring crisis in Ethiopia. This incident follows a similar tragedy in December 2024, when a bus crashed into a river in the southern Sidama region, leaving 66 people dead.

- Ends