More than 60 people have tragically lost their lives in a road accident in southern Ethiopia, as reported by the local health authority on Sunday.

More than 60 people have tragically lost their lives following a road accident in southern Ethiopia, according to the local health authority's report on Sunday.

The incident took place in Sidama state, which is located about 300 kilometers (180 miles) south of the capital, Addis Ababa. The Sidama Regional Health Bureau confirmed the accident, stating on Facebook that "a car accident has claimed the lives of 66 people so far," but did not provide further specific details about the crash.

The accident occurred in the Eastern Zone, at the Gelana Bridge in the Bona Zuria Woreda, as reported by the bureau. It was also noted that four injured passengers are currently receiving medical treatment at the Bona General Hospital.

Blurred images released by the health bureau showed a large crowd gathered around a vehicle that appeared to be partially submerged in water, with several individuals seemingly trying to assist in pulling it out. Additional images depicted bodies lying on the ground, some covered with blue tarpaulin.

The Sidama Regional Health Bureau expressed its heartfelt condolences to the families affected by the crash and promised to provide further updates as more information becomes available.

Currently, there is limited information about the incident, including the number of vehicles involved or the total number of passengers at the time. Road accidents are unfortunately frequent in Ethiopia, which, as the second most populous country in Africa, has many roads that are often in poor condition.