Ten Christians were killed and hundreds are injured when their bleachers collapsed during Timkat in Ethiopia.

Ethiopian News Agency says the seating area collapsed during the celebrations. The celebration continued after the collapse despite attendees and emergency crews working to remove people from the rubble.

Christians were celebrating Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River on Monday during the orthodox celebration in Gondar. Each year hundreds of thousands of people make the trip to participate in the festival.

An international reporter took a photo of the stand before the collapse, noting it appeared to be poorly made.

 

Timkat is considered Ethiopia's "most colourful holiday" by attendees. The three-day festival is celebrated across the country with prayer, singing, and baptisms.