In Ethiopia, 36 believers die when scaffolding collapsed in church

The site of the tragedy at the Arerti Mariam church, where dozens of believers perished. Photo: Facebook Capture – DR

On October 1, 2025, in the northern district of Minjar-Shenkora (Ethiopia), makeshift scaffolding collapsed during a service at the Arerti Mariam church, killing at least 30 to 36 people and injuring more than 200, reports Tribune Chrétienne.

The tragedy occurred during the celebration of Saint Mary's Day, one of the most revered feasts in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, related to the commemoration of the Most Holy Theotokos. This feast annually gathers thousands of pilgrims, and many believers were present in the church for the service that day. During the service, improvised wooden structures collapsed directly onto the parishioners. Among the deceased were people aged 25 to 80. The injured were taken to regional hospitals, with the most severe cases transported to Addis Ababa.

"The death toll has reached 36 and could rise further ," said local police chief Ahmed Gebeyehu. District head Teshale Tilahun described the loss as a tragic loss for the community and said more bodies could still be discovered under the rubble. Witnesses noted that the structures collapsed instantly, causing panic among the believers.

The Ethiopian government expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and emphasized that safety must be a priority in any construction work. Political and religious leaders of the country are calling for solidarity and prayers for the deceased and injured.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that in Nigeria, armed militants on motorcycles shot 22 Christians.

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