At least 22 Ethiopian migrants were killed and 65 others injured after a lorry they were traveling in overturned in Semera town, in Ethiopia’s north-eastern Afar region, authorities have reported.
About 85 migrants were traveling along the eastern migration route when the accident occurred on Tuesday morning, according to a senior Afar official, Mohammed Ali Biedo. Their ultimate destination was unclear, though the route typically runs from Ethiopia through Djibouti, across the Red Sea to Yemen, and onward to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries.
“The accident occurred when a lorry transporting migrants, misled by illegal brokers and unaware of the dangers of their journey, overturned,” Biedo said. He added that 30 of the injured remain in critical condition.
The Afar regional government described the incident as “horrific” and said it was carrying out life-saving operations for the injured. Authorities also warned Ethiopians, particularly young people, about the dangers of human trafficking and false promises of work abroad. “We will ensure that law enforcement continues with concerned authorities to prevent such tragic events from repeating,” the government said.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) describes the journey from the Horn of Africa — including Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, and Eritrea — to Yemen as “one of the busiest and most perilous mixed migration routes.” Despite the dangers, more than 60,000 migrants reached Yemen in 2024, many ultimately bound for Saudi Arabia in search of work.
The incident shows the persistent risks faced by migrants traveling through unsafe routes and highlights the need for stronger measures against human trafficking in the region.