Borkena
Toronto – A wedding day turned catastrophic as 71 people reportedly killed , including bridegroom, in a tragic car accident in Sidama region, South Ethiopia.
An ISUZU pick up truck carrying the bridegroom and guests plunged into the river after it lost lane.
Seven others are wounded.
About 50 of those dead in the accident are the same family members and relatives from Mirende kebele.
The accident occurred on Sunday around 5 P.M. local time as the bridegroom and group of brides with guests were heading to the bride’s house in Worancha.
BBC Amharic quoted Shumete Tuncha, Deputy head of Bona Zuria district police, as saying “vehicle overload” is “the cause of the accident.”
Bodies of the victims were recovered from the river until 3:00 A.M.
Lemma Legide, medical director of Bona General hospital, has confirmed to the source that 73 victims were brought to the hospital with the help of community members. 64 of the victims were dead before they arrived at the hospital and the remaining died at the hospital.
61 of those dead in the accident were male and four are female, it was said.
Most victims are 15 to 30.
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Another tragedy may be in the offing. Almost daily and for more than a week the earth has been trembling in areas around Awash and Metahara. Almost all of them have been 4.5 or higher. There were a couple 5.1 during the last 2 days. It is being felt even not too far from the capital itself which is less than 135 miles away. Let’s hope and pray this is not just a rehearsal for a bigger one that will shake a vast area. It is also reported that it is making our Afar brothers and sisters who live in the area very nervous.
Meanwhile, I would like to take a moment to wish you all of my very dear countrymen/women A Happy and Rewarding Year in 2025 and years beyond that. It is also my Best Wishes for that gem of a country that produced us all that it will somehow finds the wherewithal to be at peace with itself in the coming year. Insha’Allah!!!
As the New Year 2025 is already here, let’s all pause for a moment to remember those who are with us anymore. Some of those were committed dear friends of our old country. We lost one of the greatest friends of Ethiopia; Harry Belafonte in 2023 and in 2024 Ethiopia lost one of its steadfast friends, Quincy Jones. These two stood by the sides of the people of Ethiopia who were dying from man-made famine in 1984-85 when everyone else was looking the other way. Harry came up with a wonderful idea of getting celebrity singers together to sing for charity. Lionel and Michael wrote the song and Quincy arranged and conducted it to be the #1 pop song of all time. The top music celebrities of the time were in the recording room in profusion. The Banana Boat himself Belafonte was out there. Billy Jean Michael and the entire Jackson brood were there. Girls Want To Have Fun Cyndi Lauper serenaded everyone in the room. Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles, Hit The Road Jack if you will, were singing from the top of their lungs. Goddesses Tina, Diana, Dionne had graced the microphone. Bruce was not Dancing In The Dark that night. Paul Simon was not with Julio Down By The SchoolYard that day. No sir!!! They were all there to stand by the starving and dying people of Ethiopia. Many of those friends of Ethiopia are not with us anymore. Let’s remember and thank them one more time.
Above all let’s not forget those hundreds of thousands of young people our old country lost in stupid conflicts started by bigots and connivers since 1974. Young people are still losing their Allah Blessed lives after being hoodwinked by smart alecks. Let’s take a moment to remember them! May all rest in eternal peace!!!!
Make that:
As the New Year 2025 is already here, let’s all pause for a moment to remember those who are not with us anymore.