Arerti Virgin Mary Church District (2025)

Arerti Mary Church Collapse (2025) was a fatal construction accident that occurred on 1 October 2025 in the Menjar Shenkora district of Ethiopia’s Amhara region. The temporary wooden scaffolding of the Arerti Mary Church under construction collapsed, resulting in at least 36 deaths and over 200 injuries. The accident took place during an annual religious festival dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Initial reports following the accident indicated that more than 30 people had died. Subsequent updates raised the death toll to 36. The number of injured exceeded 200. Injuries ranged from minor cuts to severe and life-threatening trauma.

Immediately after the incident, medical teams and security forces were dispatched to the area. Most of the injured were transported to Arerti Hospital. Due to the hospital’s limited capacity, critically injured patients were transferred to hospitals in Addis Ababa. Arerti Hospital Chief Physician Siyoum Altaye stated that cooperation with the Red Cross had been established to assist in treating the injured.

While more than 70 injured individuals continued to receive treatment at Arerti Hospital, those with less severe injuries were directed to nearby health posts. Authorities requested additional support from other medical facilities due to the scale of the disaster.

Minjar Shenkora District Police Chief Inspector Ahmed Gebeyehu, in a statement following the incident, confirmed that at least 30 people had lost their lives and over 200 had been injured. Gebeyehu noted that some of the injured were in critical condition and that the death toll could rise.

Arerti Hospital Chief Physician Siyoum Altaye stated that the hospital’s resources were overwhelmed and that critically injured patients had been transferred to major medical centers in Addis Ababa. Local official Teshale Tilahun described the incident as a major loss for the community.

In official condolence messages issued by the Ethiopian Government Communication Service and the Ministry of Communication, condolences were extended to the families of those who lost their lives, and emphasis was placed on the need to prioritize occupational health and safety in all construction projects. The messages also stated that future inspections would be conducted more rigorously.