What was meant to be a day of joyous religious celebration in central Ethiopia turned into a scene of devastation and heartbreak this week, as a scaffolding collapse at a local church claimed dozens of lives and left hundreds more injured. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at the Arerti St Mary’s Church in Minjar Shenkora Woreda, North Shewa Zone of the Amhara Region, has shaken the tight-knit community to its core.
According to Reuters, the tragedy unfolded during a packed religious festival at the partially constructed church. Worshippers had gathered in large numbers, eager to mark the occasion, when the wooden scaffolding—erected to support the crowds—suddenly gave way. Police chief Ahmed Gebeyehu told state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting, "What caused the damage was when the scaffolding crumpled. It just crushed the people beneath. Some who were on the peripheries ran outside, but those in the middle perished."
The aftermath was nothing short of harrowing. At least 36 people lost their lives beneath the collapsed structure, and more than 200 others sustained injuries, some of them critical. The death toll, Gebeyehu warned, could rise as several of the injured remained in precarious condition as of Thursday.
Eyewitness accounts paint a grim picture of the moments following the collapse. Tadesse Tesfaye, a survivor, described the chaos and confusion that erupted as the scaffolding buckled under the weight of the crowd. "It just crushed the people beneath," he recalled, echoing the horror of those trapped in the middle of the structure. The scene was further compounded by the presence of victims' belongings—a pile of shoes and sandals left behind near broken masonry and snapped scaffolding poles—a silent testament to the lives abruptly upended.
By the next day, October 2, the community had begun to reckon with its grief. Funerals were held at the Arerti Mariam Orthodox Christian church, with hundreds of mourners gathering to pay their respects. According to the BBC, the coffins of the victims, draped in colorful cloth, were carried solemnly into the church compound as clerics conducted burial rituals. The atmosphere was heavy with sorrow, as families and friends grappled with the sudden loss of loved ones.
Among the mourners was 22-year-old Fikre Tilahun, whose mother was among those killed in the collapse. Fikre’s grief was palpable. "It's difficult to..." he began, struggling to find words that could capture the depth of his pain. His story is just one of many in a community now marked by tragedy, each family with its own tale of loss and heartbreak.
The shock of the disaster was evident throughout Arerti. On the morning after the incident, the twisted remains of the wooden scaffolding still lay beneath the church’s freshly painted dome, a stark reminder of how quickly celebration can turn to catastrophe. The sight of pallbearers carrying coffins during the funeral ceremony, as reported by Reuters, underscored the profound sense of mourning that has enveloped the town.
Authorities have yet to release a comprehensive explanation for the collapse, but initial reports suggest that the temporary wooden structure was unable to withstand the sheer number of worshippers gathered for the festival. The incident has raised urgent questions about safety standards at public gatherings, particularly in places of worship that often serve as focal points for large community events.
For many in Ethiopia, the tragedy at Arerti St Mary’s Church is a grim reminder of the risks associated with inadequate infrastructure in rapidly growing communities. As religious festivals continue to draw large crowds, the need for robust safety measures has become all the more apparent. Local officials, including police chief Ahmed Gebeyehu, have indicated that investigations are underway, but for now, the focus remains on caring for the injured and supporting grieving families.
The broader Ethiopian Orthodox Christian community has also rallied in support of the victims. Religious leaders have offered prayers and comfort, while volunteers have stepped in to assist with funeral arrangements and medical care for the wounded. The sense of solidarity is strong, even amid the pain—a testament to the resilience of a community bound by faith and shared experience.
As the town of Arerti begins the difficult process of healing, many are left reflecting on the fragility of life and the importance of coming together in times of crisis. The loss of 36 lives in a single, devastating moment has left a void that will not soon be filled, but the collective response of the community offers a glimmer of hope amid the darkness.
In the days ahead, attention will likely turn toward accountability and the steps needed to prevent such tragedies in the future. For now, however, Arerti mourns its dead, honors their memory, and leans on its faith to carry it through the aftermath of an event that has forever altered the fabric of the town.
The image of pallbearers carrying coffins, the pile of abandoned shoes, and the broken scaffolding beneath the church’s dome will linger in the minds of many. These are the indelible marks of a tragedy that struck without warning, leaving behind stories of loss, resilience, and the enduring power of community in the face of unimaginable sorrow.
