This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly6en6l141o

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Ethiopia Orthodox Christian church in Arerti: Funerals held after scaffolding collapse kills 36 Ethiopia Orthodox Christian church in Arerti: Funerals held after scaffolding collapse kills 36
(32 minutes later)
A day after the joyous celebration of a religious festival, an Orthodox Christian church in the small Ethiopian town of Arerti was holding mass funerals for the 36 worshippers killed when scaffolding inside the building collapsed. A day after the joyous celebration of a religious festival, mass funerals were held in the small Ethiopian town of Arerti for the 36 people killed when scaffolding inside an Orthodox Christian church collapsed.
Hundreds of mourners walked with coffins draped in colourful cloth into the compound of the Arerti Mariam church while clerics conducted burial rituals. Hundreds of mourners walked with coffins draped in colourful cloth into the compound of a nearby church while clerics conducted burial rituals following the disaster at the St Mariam Church.
Among them was 22-year-old Fikre Tilahun, who told the BBC that he had lost his mother in the tragedy.Among them was 22-year-old Fikre Tilahun, who told the BBC that he had lost his mother in the tragedy.
"It's difficult to lose your mother, very difficult," he said."It's difficult to lose your mother, very difficult," he said.
Fikre Tilahun last saw his mother the night before her deathFikre Tilahun last saw his mother the night before her death
Worshippers had gathered at the church, about 70 km (45 miles) from the capital Addis Ababa, on Wednesday as part of the annual Orthodox Christian celebration of St Mary. Although the church is still under construction, people had gathered in the building on Wednesday during the annual Orthodox Christian celebration of St Mariam.
Eyewitness Gebreweld Tesfaye told the BBC that a sizeable number of the worshippers decided to climb onto the makeshift scaffolding to view a newly painted mural on the church ceiling when disaster struck.Eyewitness Gebreweld Tesfaye told the BBC that a sizeable number of the worshippers decided to climb onto the makeshift scaffolding to view a newly painted mural on the church ceiling when disaster struck.
"The staircase was entirely wooden, and there were many people moving upstairs at the time. As the congregants were going, the wooden structure gave way, leading to the collapse," Mr Gebreweld said."The staircase was entirely wooden, and there were many people moving upstairs at the time. As the congregants were going, the wooden structure gave way, leading to the collapse," Mr Gebreweld said.
Other eyewitnesses said that chaos ensued, as people scattered in panic or tried to save the lives of people trapped beneath the rubble.Other eyewitnesses said that chaos ensued, as people scattered in panic or tried to save the lives of people trapped beneath the rubble.
Fikre Tilahun says his mother prayed at the church every morning The church is still under construction
Mr Fikre told the BBC that as soon as he heard of the disaster, he rushed to the church, and then to a health centre to look for her mother, but she was not at either place. Mr Fikre told the BBC that as soon as he heard of the disaster, he rushed to the church, and then to a health centre to look for his mother, but she was not at either place.
"My cousin called me after that. And then I went to the hospital. Her body was there," Mr Fikre said."My cousin called me after that. And then I went to the hospital. Her body was there," Mr Fikre said.
She was among the 36 dead, with the emergency services saying that the death toll could rise as some of the injured, numbering about 200, were in a critical condition. Some of them have been transferred to Addis Ababa for treatment. She was among the 36 dead, with the emergency services saying that the death toll could rise as some of the injured, numbering about 200, were in a critical condition. Some of them have been transferred to Addis Ababa, about 70 km (45 miles) away, for treatment.
The archbishop of the local diocese, Megabi Hadis Nekatibeb, described the disaster as "incredibly tragic and heart-breaking".The archbishop of the local diocese, Megabi Hadis Nekatibeb, described the disaster as "incredibly tragic and heart-breaking".
A mass funeral was held for the victims
Mr Fikre said life would not be the same for him and his younger brother without their mother.Mr Fikre said life would not be the same for him and his younger brother without their mother.
"She raised us by making and selling tella [a locally brewed liquor]," he told the BBC."She raised us by making and selling tella [a locally brewed liquor]," he told the BBC.
The government expressed its condolences to the relatives of the victims, and said that "safety must be given priority" during all construction projects.The government expressed its condolences to the relatives of the victims, and said that "safety must be given priority" during all construction projects.
Health and safety regulations are poorly enforced in Ethiopia and construction disasters are common.Health and safety regulations are poorly enforced in Ethiopia and construction disasters are common.
More about Ethiopia from the BBC:More about Ethiopia from the BBC:
Joyful Ethiopians and Eritreans embrace at rare border reopeningJoyful Ethiopians and Eritreans embrace at rare border reopening
Ethiopia outfoxes Egypt over the Nile's waters with its mighty damEthiopia outfoxes Egypt over the Nile's waters with its mighty dam
Ten women, one guy: The risk-taking dating show that stirred EthiopiaTen women, one guy: The risk-taking dating show that stirred Ethiopia
Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.
Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafricaFollow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica