Ten people killed in Orthodox Christian festival in Ethiopia (Photos)

Ten people killed in Orthodox Christian festival in Ethiopia (Photos), At least 10 people have been killed and more than 100 injured when a seating area collapsed during a major Orthodox Christian celebration in Ethiopia.

The accident occurred at about 8am on Monday in Gondar where more than a million people gather for the epiphany festivities known as Timkat every year.  Two doctors at the University of Gondar Hospital confirmed that 10 people died when the spectator stands collapsed suddenly.

Hundreds of people were actually sitting on a tiered wooden structure for hours when it collapsed.  “I can tell you up to now we have 10 dead. The number of injured is 100 or even 150,” says one senior doctor at the University of Gondar Hospital.  A hospital source said the injured were suffering from fractures and internal bleeding. 

Samuel Baheru, who traveled to Gondar for Timkat from the capital Addis Ababa, said he was outside Fasilides’ Bath when the structure collapsed and watched bodies being carried out on stretchers. ‘We heard a loud noise and what we saw coming out on the stretchers wasn’t pleasant.  ‘At first I panicked because my wife was inside, but then I found her and we continued with Timkat,’ he said.