Deadly Church Collapse in Ethiopia: Several Casualties Reported

At least 36 people died and more than 200 were injured when a wooden scaffolding collapsed inside a church under construction in Ethiopia on Wednesday morning. The accident happened during peak pilgrimage hours at Arirti Church, about 70 kilometers east of the capital Addis Ababa.

Ethiopian radio station Fana reported the updated death toll, which rose significantly from earlier government media reports of 22 dead and 55 injured. The collapse occurred at 7:45 AM local time as worshippers gathered at the construction site.

Local police commander Ahmed Gebiho warned that casualties could climb higher. More than 200 injured people are receiving treatment at hospitals, with some of the most serious cases transported to medical facilities in Addis Ababa.

Photos shared by Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation on Facebook showed the massive wooden scaffolding structure before the collapse - tall wooden poles supporting what appeared to be temporary construction platforms. After the accident, images captured crowds of people working to rescue victims from inside the damaged building.

The timing made the disaster particularly deadly. The collapse happened during a period when pilgrims typically visit the church site, concentrating large numbers of people in the area when the scaffolding gave way.

Construction accidents at religious sites often result in high casualties in Ethiopia, where many churches and mosques undergo expansion or renovation projects to accommodate growing congregations. The country's construction industry has faced scrutiny over safety standards, particularly for temporary structures used during building projects.