At least 31 people have been killed and 33 others injured after an overcrowded passenger bus veered off a mountainous road and plunged into a deep ravine in northern Ethiopia early Monday morning.
The bus, which was travelling from the Dessie area to the capital Addis Ababa, reportedly lost control along a dangerous stretch of road in the conflict-affected Amhara region.
Local authorities said the vehicle was severely overloaded at the time of the crash, a factor that complicated rescue efforts and contributed to the scale of the tragedy.
Delayed emergency response worsens casualties
Officials from the Kombolcha Town Administration Police Division said the death toll was worsened by delayed emergency response due to a lack of basic medical and ambulance services in the area.
Survivors reportedly waited long periods before receiving medical attention, forcing residents and first responders to transport the injured using private vehicles to nearby hospitals. Authorities believe several victims could have survived with faster medical intervention.
Dangerous mountain route under scrutiny
The crash occurred on a well-known hazardous highway characterised by sharp bends, steep slopes, and unstable terrain. The route has long been flagged by transport operators as one of the most dangerous in the region.
Investigations are ongoing to determine whether mechanical failure or human error caused the accident.
The tragedy adds to a series of fatal road incidents in Ethiopia, including a December 2024 crash in the Sidama region that killed 66 people when a bus plunged into a river.
Broader concerns over road safety in Africa
The incident has renewed concerns over road safety enforcement and emergency response systems across Africa, where road traffic fatalities remain among the highest globally, according to the World Health Organization.
It also comes amid broader regional efforts, including the African Union’s African Road Safety Charter adopted in March 2026, aimed at strengthening enforcement against overloading and improving emergency care infrastructure.
The crisis reflects similar challenges in West Africa, where Ghana recorded 2,949 road deaths in 2025, highlighting ongoing gaps in road safety enforcement and trauma care response systems across the region.
