Ethiomonitor -Addis Ababa
October 1, 2025
Dozens died and hundreds were injured after an under-construction church building collapsed in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, according to local authorities on Wednesday.
The accident occurred when worshippers climbed on top of the scaffolding in the church that was under construction. The weight of the worshippers caused the scaffolding to collapse on top of them early on Wednesday morning at Menjar Shenkora Arerti Mariam Church around 2:45 AM local time, approximately 130 km east of the capital, Addis Ababa.
The worshippers had come to celebrate St. Mary’s annual festival at the church when the incident occurred.
Gota Tesfaye, Manager of Arerti Primary Hospital, confirmed that there were children and elderly among the victims.
“So far, we have confirmed 25 deaths and over a hundred injured,” he told Ethio Monitor. “Fifteen individuals with severe injuries have been taken to hospitals in Adama and Addis Ababa for specialized treatment.”
The hospital is seeking assistance from the Red Cross to provide medical care to the injured, he added.
Photos shared on the Facebook page of Menjar Shenkora Werda Communication show the collapsed section of the church, covered with rubble, as mourners gather to pay their respects.
Arerti town Mayor Teshale Tilahun warned that the death toll might rise. “It is a tragic loss for the community.” He said.
Such tragic incidents are common in Ethiopia. In 2024, a residential building collapsed in the capital, claiming seven lives while the victims were asleep. Previously, in 2022, a building collapsed in Merkato, one of Africa’s largest open markets, resulting in at least six deaths and seven injuries.
