At least 31 killed as bus plunges into ravine in Ethiopia

At least 31 people were killed and dozens more injured when a bus plunged into a deep ravine in northern Ethiopia, one of the country's deadliest road accidents in recent months.

The overcrowded bus was travelling from the Dessie area toward the capital, Addis Ababa, early in the day when it veered off the road and fell into a ravine roughly 100 metres deep. The crash happened on a winding mountain route known as Harego, in the conflict-affected Amhara region.

Rescue efforts were hampered by the remoteness of the area, which lacks basic infrastructure and ambulance services. Some victims were reported to have died because of delays in emergency response, with survivors transported in public vehicles for lack of dedicated ambulances.

The road where the accident occurred winds through hilly, forested terrain and is widely regarded as hazardous. Authorities said the cause of the crash remained under investigation.

Road accidents are a frequent cause of death in Ethiopia, where mountainous terrain, ageing vehicles and overcrowding contribute to a high toll. The disaster renewed concern over road safety and emergency services in rural parts of the country.