The Role In The Ethiopian Church Collapsed, 36 People Died

JAKARTA - A total of 36 people were killed and more than 200 injured in a religious festival in Ethiopia as the temporary structure for the wood support collapsed fell on them inside a partially built church.

The temporary wooden structure collapsed on Wednesday due to the heavy burden of the congregation visiting the St. Mary Arerti Church in Minjar Shenkora Woreda, North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region, local police chief Ahmed Gebeyehu told Fana Broadcasting affiliated with the government.

The death toll could increase because some of the injured were still in critical condition.

"The damage occurred when the scene collapsed. The rubble fell on the people below. Some of the people on the outskirts ran out, but those who were in the middle were killed," said Tadesse Tesfaye, a survivor.

The day after the incident, the victim's shoes and sandals were scattered beside the rubble of the rock and broken pillars. The remains of the twisted caste remain in place under the newly painted church dome.