At least 22 Ethiopian migrants have been killed and 65 others injured after a lorry carrying them overturned in Ethiopia’s north-eastern Afar region, according to regional authorities.
The crash occurred on Tuesday morning near the town of Semera as the migrants were travelling along the eastern migration route, a corridor commonly used by people attempting to leave Ethiopia in search of work abroad. Officials said around 85 migrants were packed into the vehicle at the time of the accident.
A senior Afar official said 30 of the injured are in critical condition, raising fears that the death toll could rise. Emergency services were continuing life-saving operations at local hospitals following what authorities described as a horrific incident.
Media reports quoted officials as saying the migrants had been misled by illegal brokers and were unaware of the dangers involved in the journey. Human traffickers are frequently blamed for organising overcrowded and unsafe transport for migrants seeking to reach the Gulf.
Although the final destination of those involved was not confirmed, the eastern route typically runs from Ethiopia through Djibouti, across the Red Sea to Yemen, and onward to Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries. Yemen remains a key transit point for migrants from the Horn of Africa, despite years of conflict and instability.
The Afar regional government warned young Ethiopians in particular about the risks of human trafficking and false promises made by smugglers, pledging to work with law enforcement bodies to prevent similar tragedies.
According to the International Organization for Migration, the route from the Horn of Africa, including Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti and Eritrea, to Yemen is among the busiest and most dangerous migration corridors in the world. Despite the risks, more than 60,000 migrants reportedly arrived in Yemen in 2024 alone, many hoping to continue onwards to Saudi Arabia.