By Maher Ahmed - Reporter
Ethiopia , July 20 2026 – A road crash followed by the collapse of a mass grave during burial preparations killed at least 15 people in Ethiopia's Somali region on Sunday, regional authorities said.
The first incident occurred near the village of Guuyow in Qabribayah district, where an Isuzu truck collided with a Tuk Tuk vehicle, killing 12 people and injuring three others, according to Somali Regional Television (SRTV).
Hours later, as residents prepared a mass grave for the victims, the grave collapsed, killing three people and injuring about 10 others, SRTV reported.
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The regional government said emergency services responded to both incidents, while road safety authorities launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.
Somali Region President Mustafe Mohammed Omar travelled to Qabribayah to attend the funeral of the victims and visit those injured in hospital. In a statement, he expressed condolences to the families of those killed and described the twin tragedies as a loss for the entire region.
According to the World Health Organization, road injuries are among the leading causes of death in Ethiopia.