At least 71 people have died when a truck carrying passengers fell into a river in the Sidama region of southern Ethiopia, according to authorities.

The regional communications office stated in a late Sunday announcement that the accident occurred in the Bouna area.

Sidama Regional Government spokesman Wosenilleh Simeon told Reuters that the victims included 68 men and 3 women, adding that "5 people are in critical condition and receiving treatment at Bouna General Hospital.

Wosenilleh noted that the truck fell into the river, explaining that the road had many curves.

Some passengers were returning from a wedding, and some families lost several members. The regional traffic police indicated that the truck was overloaded, which likely caused the accident.

State-run Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation reported that the passengers were on their way to a wedding when the accident occurred.

In 2018, at least 38 people, mostly students, died when a bus fell into a ravine in the mountainous north of Ethiopia.