17 killed as Ethiopian bus plunges into ravine
May 31, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — 17 people, at least, were killed and 36 injured when a passenger bus plunged into a deep ravine in northern Ethiopia after skidding off a muddy rural road, police said on Wednesday.
The vehicle, which was carrying 63 passengers, swerved off the road running from the towns of Essie to Baherder at Kelto, about 520km north-east of the capital in Amhara region, late on Tuesday, they said.
Most of the dead were killed instantly when the bus plunged into a 150m deep ravine and into a dry river bed adjacent to the road, the area’s deputy police inspector Ayalew Yimama said.
“Even though mud and heavy rains in the area could have caused the accident, we are still investigating,” he told Agence France-Presse, adding that the injured were being treated in nearby hospitals.
Accidents are common in the impoverished Horn of Africa nation where authorities recently tightened traffic laws in a bid to stem growing numbers of road fatalities.
Under new legislation that came into effect last week, motorists can be fined if caught chewing narcotic leaves, drinking and using cellular phones while driving.
Those convicted of hitting and killing pedestrians are liable to a jail term of 15 years.
(ST/AFP)