Scaffolding collapse in Ethiopian church kills at least 36

People inspect the scene of a wooden scaffolding collapse at the St. Mary Orthodox Church that killed faithful in Arerti, Ethiopia, October 2, 2025. REUTERS/ Tiksa Negeri

MINJAR SHENKORA, Ethiopia (Reuters) -At least 36 people were killed and more than 200 injured at a religious festival in central Ethiopia when wooden scaffolding collapsed underneath them inside a partially constructed church, police and a survivor said.

The temporary wooden structure gave way on Wednesday under the weight of worshippers visiting Arerti St Mary's Church in Minjar Shenkora Woreda, North Shewa Zone of the Amhara Region, local police chief Ahmed Gebeyehu told state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting.