PHOTOS: Ten People Killed At Orthodox Christian Festival In Ethiopia

Following the collapse of a seating area during a major Orthodox Christian celebration in Ethiopia, no fewer than 10 people have been killed and over 100 people injured in the tragic incident.

It was learnt that the accident happened in Gondar at about 8am on Monday.

Gondar is the convening place where more than a million people gather for the epiphany festivities known as Timkat every year.

No fewer than 10 people who died shortly after the spectator stand collapsed suddenly have been confirmed by two doctors at the University of Gondar Hospital.

According to reports, hundreds of people were actually sitting on a tiered wooden structure for hours when it collapsed.

“I can tell you up to now we have 10 dead. The number of injured is 100 or even 150,” says one senior doctor at the University of Gondar Hospital.

A hospital source said the injured were suffering from fractures and internal bleeding.

Samuel Baheru, who travelled to Gondar for Timkat from the capital Addis Ababa, said he was outside Fasilides’ Bath when the structure collapsed and watched bodies being carried out on stretchers.

‘We heard a loud noise and what we saw coming out on the stretchers wasn’t pleasant.

‘At first I panicked because my wife was inside, but then I found her and we continued with Timkat,’ he said.