Getahun Tsegaye
Staff Reporter
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia-At least 19 people have been confirmed dead following a tragic traffic accident that occurred in Giligil Beles town, in Ethiopia’s Benishangul Gumuz region, over the weekend on Saturday, May 18.
According to a report by Benishangul Gumuz State Media, the incident happened around 9:15 a.m. local time when a loaded excavator truck experienced a technical malfunction. The vehicle veered off its path and crashed into individuals who were inside the Hule Geb Hotel and others who were on the roadside engaged in various activities.
Commander Taye Gurmesa of the Giligil Beles Town Administration Police told state media that the number of confirmed fatalities has risen from 12 to 19 as of Sunday. The deceased include 17 men and 2 women.
In addition to the fatalities, 13 others—11 men and 2 women—sustained varying degrees of injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment at a local hospital.
Authorities estimate the property damage from the crash at over 55.5 million Ethiopian birr (approximately USD $970,000).
In a statement, the town administration expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and the destruction caused. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims,” the administration said. It also expressed gratitude to local residents, medical professionals, federal and regional police, defense forces, militia groups, and volunteers who assisted in rescue and recovery efforts.
Following this, the regional state declared a three-day mourning period.
Despite repeated attempts by Borkena to contact relevant regional officials for further comment, those efforts were unsuccessful.
This devastating incident serves as a stark reminder of the broader challenges the country faces in ensuring road safety for its citizens in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia experiences a consistently high number of road traffic fatalities each year. According to the Road Safety and Insurance Fund Service (RSIFS), over 4,000 people die in traffic-related incidents annually, and more than 10,000 suffer serious or minor injuries.
In just a six-month period between July 8, 2023, and January 2024, at least 1,358 individuals lost their lives, and 2,672 others sustained serious injuries in road accidents. These accidents resulted in a financial loss estimated at over 1.9 billion Ethiopian birr (approximately USD $33 million). Furthermore, Ethiopia’s road traffic fatality rate stands at 37 per 100,000 population, one of the highest globally.
Several contributing factors have been identified in the high incidence of traffic accidents. Research shows that drivers are responsible for more than 60% of accidents, often due to negligence or reckless behavior. Behavioral factors such as speeding, ignoring traffic signals, and the use of substances like alcohol and khat play a significant role. Additionally, poor infrastructure, lack of vehicle maintenance, and inadequate emergency medical services further exacerbate the situation and increase the severity of traffic incidents.
The impact of these accidents is disproportionately borne by vulnerable populations. In the capital city, Addis Ababa, pedestrians accounted for 86% of all road traffic fatalities reported in the 2023/24 fiscal year.
Children are also significantly affected; between 2019 and 2021, they represented 16% of all road traffic-related deaths in the country. These figures highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions to protect the most at-risk groups.
In response to the alarming statistics, the Ethiopian government and related institutions have implemented several initiatives. The RSIFS was established to coordinate national road safety efforts and has set an ambitious goal of reducing traffic fatalities by 50% by 2030.
The National Road Safety Strategy (2021–2030) employs a “Safe System” approach, emphasizing urban design improvements, better road infrastructure, and support for non-motorized transport options. Additionally, public awareness campaigns such as “Slow Down, Speeding Ruins Lives” have been launched to educate drivers about the dangers of reckless driving and to encourage safer road use behaviors.
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