At least 22 Ethiopian migrants died, and 65 others were injured after a lorry overturned in Ethiopia’s northeastern Afar region on Tuesday morning. Around 85 migrants were traveling along the eastern migration route when the accident happened in the town of Semera. The migrants’ final destination was unclear, but this route commonly leads from Ethiopia through Djibouti, across the Red Sea to Yemen, and on to Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries. Yemen is a key passage for migrants from the Horn of Africa seeking work in Gulf states. Senior Afar official Mohammed Ali Biedo said, "The accident occurred when a lorry transporting migrants, misled by illegal brokers and unaware of the dangers of their journey, overturned." Thirty of the injured remain in critical condition. The Afar regional government described the crash as "horrific" and said it is "doing all the necessary life saving operations" for the injured. They also warned Ethiopians, especially young people, about the dangers posed by human trafficking driven by false promises. "We will ensure that the law enforcement work will continue with the concerned authorities to prevent such tragic events from repeating," the government added. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) calls this journey from the Horn of Africa to Yemen "one of the busiest and most perilous mixed migration routes." Despite the risks, more than 60,000 migrants arrived in Yemen in 2024 alone, many aiming for Saudi Arabia, according to the IOM. Additional reporting by Wycliffe Muia.