ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- At least nine people were killed and several others injured when a passenger bus collided with a truck in central Ethiopia, local authorities confirmed on Thursday.
The accident occurred on Wednesday night in the East Shewa Zone of Ethiopia's largest Oromia region when a passenger bus, primarily carrying health workers, collided with a cargo truck coming from the opposite direction, the East Shewa Zone Communication said in a statement.
Noting that seven of the deaths were health professionals, officials said eight others sustained injuries, three of them critical. The injured are currently receiving medical treatment at nearby health facilities.
The bus was carrying 28 people, most of them medical staff from various health centers across the region, who were traveling to Haramaya University for a professional training program, according to the statement.
In a separate statement, the Oromia Regional Health Bureau expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, describing the victims as dedicated health workers who had "served their communities with compassion and love."
The bureau extended condolences to the victims' families, colleagues, and the wider public, calling the incident a major loss to the health sector.
The crash is the latest in a series of deadly traffic accidents in the East African country, often attributed to reckless driving, lax enforcement of traffic laws, and poor road conditions. ■