"Many others" were injured in the accident that occurred on Monday, local officials said. The survivors have been taken to hospital and an investigation has been launched.
The bus was travelling from the town of Dessie in the Amhara region. It is unclear how many passengers were on board. Pictures on the region's social media account showed the nearly completely destroyed bus lying on a hillside.
The accident has been described as the deadliest in Ethiopia in 25 years. Traffic accidents are common in the country, where many roads are poorly maintained.
