At least 22 people were killed and 65 others injured after a cargo truck carrying Ethiopian asylum seekers and migrants overturned in the northern town of Semera, local authorities reported on Tuesday. The tragedy underscores the dangers faced by migrants traveling along the so-called Eastern Route from the Horn of Africa to Gulf countries.

Details of the Semera Truck Accident

The accident occurred on a highway in Afar region, several hundred kilometers west of Djibouti. Local authorities stated that the truck was overcrowded with people misled by illegal brokers who were unaware of the dangers along the travel route.

“The accident happened when a truck overturned, which had crowded in citizens who were misled by illegal brokers and didn’t understand the travel route’s danger,” the Afar communications bureau wrote on Facebook.

Rescue operations began immediately. Injured survivors were transported to Doubtee Referral Hospital, where authorities continue to provide medical care. The regional government expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and pledged full support for the injured.

The Eastern Route: A Risky Migration Path

Ethiopia is a key departure point for migrants traveling along the Eastern Route, which spans countries in the Horn of Africa—including Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, and Djibouti—toward the Gulf nations. Many migrants seek work as laborers or domestic workers, often crossing the Red Sea from Djibouti to Yemen.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that between January and September 2025, 890 deaths and disappearances occurred along the Eastern Route, a number that doubled the 2024 death toll. The IOM described the route as “the busiest and riskiest migration route in the world.”

Despite the dangers, the number of migrants using the route continues to rise. Tracked outgoing movements along the Eastern Route increased 24 percent in 2025, reaching 351,000, due to resumed data collection in Yemen and shifts in transit flows to evade border controls in Djibouti and Somalia.

Ethiopia’s Socioeconomic Context

Ethiopia, Africa’s second-most populous country with roughly 130 million people, faces widespread poverty. According to the World Bank, more than 40 percent of the population lives below the poverty line, a factor driving many to seek work abroad.

The country has also experienced rapid economic growth in recent years, but the combination of poverty, limited local opportunities, and aggressive migration networks continues to push vulnerable individuals onto dangerous routes, often with tragic consequences.

Humanitarian Response

Following the accident, the Afar regional government coordinated life-saving operations to rescue and treat survivors. NGOs and international organizations, including the IOM, continue to monitor migration trends along the Eastern Route and provide assistance where possible.

The Semera truck crash highlights the ongoing risks faced by migrants and asylum seekers in the Horn of Africa and underscores the urgent need for safer migration options and increased oversight of illegal brokers.