The death toll from a devastating road accident in southern Ethiopia has climbed to at least 71, according to local police reports.

In a statement posted late Sunday, the Sidama Police Commission Traffic Prevention and Control Directorate confirmed the tragic loss of life, noting that 68 men and three women were among the victims. Chief Inspector Daniel Sankura provided the update, stating the accident occurred around 5:30 pm local time (1430 GMT) when a vehicle veered off the road and plunged into a river.

Two additional individuals sustained severe injuries, though authorities have not provided specific details about the number of passengers or the extent of their injuries.

The crash took place in Sidama state, approximately 300 kilometers (180 miles) south of Addis Ababa, in the Eastern Zone’s Bona Zuria Woreda.

Earlier images shared by the health bureau depicted the tragic scene, with crowds gathered around a partially submerged vehicle, with many desperately trying to help pull it from the water. Other images showed bodies, some covered with blue tarps, lying on the ground.

Ethiopia, Africa’s second-most populous country, frequently experiences road accidents, often due to poorly maintained road infrastructure.