The death toll from a road accident in southern Ethiopia has risen to at least 71, according to local police.

In a Facebook post late Sunday, the Sidama Police Commission’s Traffic Prevention and Control Directorate confirmed that “68 males and three females” have been reported dead, citing Chief Inspector Daniel Sankura.

The incident occurred around 5:30 pm local time (1430 GMT) when the vehicle plunged off the road and into a river. The police commission also stated that “two others sustained serious injuries,” but did not provide further details on the number of passengers or their condition.

The crash took place in Sidama state, located about 300 kilometers (180 miles) south of Addis Ababa, in the Eastern Zone’s Bona Zuria Woreda.

Earlier images shared by the health bureau showed a crowd of people gathered around a vehicle partially submerged in water, with some attempting to rescue it. Other photos appeared to show bodies covered with blue tarpaulins lying on the ground.

Road accidents are unfortunately common in Ethiopia, Africa’s second-most populous country, where many roads are in poor condition.