More than 70 people died in Ethiopia after a truck crashed into a river

At least 71 people have died in southern Ethiopia after a truck crashed into a river, officials said.

A local official told Reuters news agency that the car was traveling through Sidama state on Sunday and fell into the river after sliding over a bridge.

Wosenyeleh Simion said many of the passengers were wedding guests.

Mr. Simion said traffic police in the area said an overloaded truck could be the cause of the incident. Further investigations are underway.

Of those confirmed dead, 68 were men and three were women, the Traffic Prevention and Control Directorate of Sidama Police Commissionerate said.

Blurry images shared on Facebook by state health authorities show a group of people trying to pull a damaged vehicle out of water in Bona County.

Other images shared by the Bureau showed bodies, some covered in green tarpaulins, lying on the ground.

Thousands of people die each year in traffic accidents in Ethiopia, often caused by speeding and flouting traffic laws.