Two separate and tragic road accidents in East Africa have resulted in numerous fatalities and injuries, highlighting ongoing concerns about road safety in the region. One incident involved a lorry carrying migrants in Ethiopia, while another saw a passenger bus collide with a truck in Kenya.

In Ethiopia's north-eastern Afar region, a lorry transporting at least 85 Ethiopian migrants overturned in the town of Semera, leading to the deaths of 22 people and injuring 65 others. Authorities, including senior Afar regional official Mohammed Ali Biedo, confirmed the incident. The migrants were reportedly using the eastern migration route, a well-known corridor for individuals seeking employment in the Middle East. This route is notoriously associated with deadly accidents and significant human trafficking risks, often involving the transport of people in overcrowded and unsafe vehicles.

Local authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, while the injured individuals were immediately transported to nearby health facilities for urgent medical attention.

Concurrently, a separate and equally devastating road accident occurred in Kenya's Kericho County, claiming the lives of six people and leaving at least 30 others injured. The crash took place at Fort Ternan, situated along the Londiani-Muhoroni road. Kericho Police Commander James Ngetich reported that a passenger bus, identified as an Uwezo bus, collided with the rear of a truck. The driver of the bus and five passengers died instantly at the scene.

The Uwezo bus was en route from Nairobi to Busia when, according to police reports, its driver reportedly lost control, leading to the fatal collision. The injured victims were rushed to various hospitals for treatment, and investigations into this incident are also currently underway.

These two tragic events underscore the persistent and severe road safety challenges faced by both Ethiopia and Kenya. Traffic accidents frequently result in high numbers of fatalities and injuries across both nations, often exacerbated by factors such as excessive speeding, substandard road conditions, and the dangerous practice of vehicle overloading. Authorities continue to grapple with these issues as they strive to improve safety on their roads.