Overview

• Makeshift wooden scaffolding at a church in Arerti, about 40 miles east of Addis Ababa, gave way around 7:45 a.m. during an annual Virgin Mary festival.
• More than 200 people were injured, and authorities cautioned the death toll could rise as operations continue.
• Local official Atnafu Abate said some people remained under the rubble, with the most seriously hurt transferred to hospitals in the capital.
• District police chief Ahmed Gebeyehu reported the confirmed toll to state outlet Fana and said patients were receiving treatment at a local hospital.
• Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation posted images showing collapsed wooden poles and crowds at the site, and a government message offered condolences and urged that safety be prioritized.