Ethiopian migrants killed and injured in lorry crash in Semera, Afar region

BBC
BBC
3h ago
At least 22 Ethiopian migrants were killed and 65 were injured when a lorry carrying them overturned in Semera in Ethiopia’s Afar region.
Ethiopian migrants killed and injured in lorry crash in Semera, Afar region
A What happened
At least 22 migrants were killed and 65 others were injured when a lorry transporting them overturned in Semera in Ethiopia’s north-eastern Afar region. About 85 Ethiopian migrants were travelling along the eastern migration route when the crash happened on Tuesday morning. A senior Afar official, Mohammed Ali Biedo, said 30 of the injured were in critical condition and said the migrants were misled by illegal brokers and unaware of the dangers of the journey. The International Organization for Migration said more than 60,000 migrants arrived in Yemen in 2024 alone, many ultimately bound for Saudi Arabia.
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Key insights

  • 1

    Afar regional government warning on trafficking: The Afar regional government cautioned Ethiopians, particularly youth, against the dangers of human trafficking driven by false promises.

  • 2

    Law enforcement pledge: The Afar regional government said law enforcement work would continue with concerned authorities to prevent such tragic events from repeating.

  • 3

    IOM assessment of the route: IOM called the Horn of Africa-to-Yemen journey one of the busiest and most perilous mixed migration routes.

Takeaways

At least 22 migrants died and dozens were injured in a lorry overturning in Semera, and regional authorities said life-saving operations and law enforcement efforts were continuing.

Topics

World & Politics Migration Law & Public Safety Public Safety Accidents & Fires

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