Addis Ababa — Makeshift scaffolding set up at a church in Ethiopia collapsed Wednesday, killing at least 36 people and injuring more than 200, state media said. The incident occurred at around 7:45 a.m. local time in the town of Arerti, about 40 miles east of capital Addis Ababa, when a group was visiting for an annual Virgin Mary festival.

District police chief Ahmed Gebeyehu told state media Fana: "The number of dead has reached 36 and could increase more", adding "more than 200 people have suffered injuries" and were receiving treatment at a local hospital.

Some people remained under the rubble, local official Atnafu Abate told the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC), without giving further details about those trapped or possible rescue efforts.

He said some of the more serious

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