3 killed when stand collapses in Ethiopian Epiphany ceremony

Christians from the Ethiopian Orthodox church celebrate the first day of the festival of Timkat, or Epiphany, in the capital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020. The annual festival celebrates the baptism of Jesus Christ in the River Jordan. (AP Photo)
Christians from the Ethiopian Orthodox church celebrate the first day of the festival of Timkat, or Epiphany, in the capital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020. The annual festival celebrates the baptism of Jesus Christ in the River Jordan. (AP Photo)

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) – A hospital source in Ethiopia’s city of Gondar confirms that at least three people are dead after a wooden stand erected for the colorful Epiphany celebration Monday collapsed.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said more than a dozen other people were injured.

The collapse occurred inside the Emperor Fasilides Bath in the northern city where several thousand Ethiopians and tourists attended the celebration commemorating the baptism of Jesus.

The Ethiopian News Agency reported that more than 15,000 foreigners attended the celebration in Gondar.

Regional officials were not immediately available to comment.

Christians from the Ethiopian Orthodox church receive a spray of holy water as they celebrate the annual festival of Timkat, or Epiphany, marking the baptism of Jesus Christ in the River Jordan, in the capital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Monday, Jan. 20, 2020. During Timkat celebrations elsewhere in the country, in the city of Gondar, at least three people are dead after a wooden stand erected for the event collapsed on Monday, according to a hospital source. (AP Photo)

Christians from the Ethiopian Orthodox church receive a spray of holy water as they celebrate the annual festival of Timkat, or Epiphany, marking the baptism of Jesus Christ in the River Jordan, in the capital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Monday, Jan. 20, 2020. During Timkat celebrations elsewhere in the country, in the city of Gondar, at least three people are dead after a wooden stand erected for the event collapsed on Monday, according to a hospital source. (AP Photo)

Christians from the Ethiopian Orthodox church celebrate the first day of the festival of Timkat, or Epiphany, in the capital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020. The annual festival celebrates the baptism of Jesus Christ in the River Jordan. (AP Photo)

Christians from the Ethiopian Orthodox church celebrate the first day of the festival of Timkat, or Epiphany, in the capital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020. The annual festival celebrates the baptism of Jesus Christ in the River Jordan. (AP Photo)

Source: AP

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