Ethiopia: 10 killed at religious festival

Doctors have reported that at least 10 people have been killed following the collapse of a spectator viewing platform at the Orthodox Christian celebration of epiphany in the city of Gondar.

A senior doctor at the University of Gondar Hospital was quoted by news agency AFP saying “I can tell you up to now we have 10 dead.  The number of injured is 100 or even 150.”

The ancient festival, known in Amharic as Timket, commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan, and takes place over two days.

The first day of the festival, known as Ketera, involves worshippers accompanying a replica of the ark of the covenant from various churches to a designated celebration ground, where it spends the night.

The second day begins at 4:00am with members of the clergy performing dances and songs, before blessing water, which is then sprinkled on participants.

Worshippers then accompany the replica ark back to the churches it came from.

Gondar, the city which hosts the festival, is considered an important place for Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia.

Photo credit: AFP