At least 31 people were killed and 33 others injured after a passenger bus plunged into a ravine in Ethiopia's northern Amhara region, according to local police.

The bus was traveling from Dessie to the capital, Addis Ababa, when the driver lost control and the vehicle fell approximately 100 meters into a gorge, local authorities said.

Police said 64 people were on board at the time of the accident. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

State-affiliated Amhara Media Corporation, citing local police, reported that rescue and recovery operations were carried out following the crash.

Road accidents remain a major public safety concern in Ethiopia, where challenging terrain, overcrowded vehicles and road safety shortcomings have contributed to a high rate of traffic fatalities.

Authorities have not yet announced the cause of the accident, and an investigation is underway.

The crash comes as Ethiopia continues to experience growth in vehicle ownership alongside economic expansion and urbanization. Transportation and safety experts have repeatedly called for stricter road safety enforcement, improved driver training and stronger vehicle inspection systems to help reduce traffic-related deaths.

According to international road safety assessments, Ethiopia records thousands of traffic fatalities each year, making road accidents one of the country's leading causes of accidental death.(ILKHA)