Truck Overturns in Ethiopia, Killing at Least 22 Migrants

Local Authorities Warn: Death Toll May Rise

In East Africa, Ethiopia, a truck overturning accident resulted in at least 22 migrants being killed and 65 injured.

Semera, Afar Region, Northern Ethiopia. Google Maps

According to Al Jazeera and other sources on January 7 (local time), Ethiopian authorities announced that, in the early morning of the previous day, a cargo truck carrying migrants overturned on a highway in the Semera area of the Afar Region in northern Ethiopia, located several hundred kilometers west of Djibouti in East Africa.

The Afar regional government explained in a statement, "The truck, packed with migrants who were deceived by illegal brokers and unaware of the dangers along the route, overturned, resulting in significant casualties."

Many of the injured are in critical condition, and local authorities stated that the death toll could rise further.

Ethiopia, located in the northeastern region of the African continent known as the 'Horn of Africa,' is considered a major starting point on the 'Eastern Route,' which is used by migrants seeking jobs who travel through Djibouti and cross the Red Sea to the Middle East.

However, due to poor road conditions and inadequate vehicle maintenance, major traffic accidents continue to occur. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 890 migrants died or went missing in land or sea accidents on the Eastern Route from January to September last year. This is more than double the 421 cases recorded during the same period in 2024.