Amhara church scaffolding collapse during St Mary kills at least 25

At least 25 people were killed and more than 100 injured on Wednesday when wooden scaffolding supporting a church under construction collapsed in Ethiopia's Amhara region as worshippers gathered for an annual St. Mary celebration, local officials and hospital staff said. The collapse occurred early in the morning at Menjar Shenkora Arerti Mariam Church, sending people who had climbed the scaffolding to view a ceiling mural crashing to the floor.

Seyoum Altaye, a clinician at a local hospital treating the injured, said the casualties include children and elderly people. "So far we have confirmed 25 dead and over a hundred injured," he said, and added that the hospital was seeking support from the Red Cross to care for the wounded. Teshale Tilahun, the local administrator, warned the death toll could rise and described the incident as a tragic loss for the community.

Witnesses described chaotic scenes as the wooden supports gave way. "We all had gathered in prayers when all of a sudden the scaffolding collapsed and people starting falling from the ceiling," said Mikias Mebratu, who said he lost three friends in the incident. Local rescue efforts pulled victims from rubble and...