Over 60 migrants dead after boat capsizes off Yemen coast

New Delhi, Aug 4: More than 60 migrants have died after a boat carrying around 150 people capsized in rough seas off the southern coast of Yemen on Sunday. The vessel sank near Abyan province, a region frequently used by human smugglers as a gateway for migrants journeying from Africa to the Gulf, reports BBC. According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), at least 68 bodies have been recovered so far, while dozens remain missing. Only 12 people have been rescued alive from the incident, said Abdusattor Esoev, IOM’s chief in Yemen.

The majority of the victims are believed to be Ethiopian nationals attempting to reach Gulf Arab states in search of employment.

Authorities said 54 bodies were found washed ashore in the southern Khanfar district, while 14 others were taken to a hospital morgue in Zinjibar, Abyan’s provincial capital. A large-scale search and recovery operation has been launched, with local officials warning that the death toll may rise as bodies continue to be discovered along the shoreline.

The ill-fated boat was reportedly carrying approximately 157 migrants across the Gulf of Aden, a treacherous route often exploited by people smugglers. The journey from the Horn of Africa to Yemen is one of the world’s busiest and most dangerous migration corridors. Many migrants aim to reach Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states despite the known risks.

The IOM has repeatedly warned that smugglers have grown increasingly reckless, often dispatching overcrowded boats into hazardous weather to avoid detection. In a statement, the agency said it was “deeply saddened” by the incident and urged governments to improve legal migration channels and crack down on criminal smuggling networks. This is not the first such tragedy in the region. In March, two boats carrying more than 180 migrants sank off Yemen’s Dhubab district. Only two crew members survived, with all passengers feared dead. Despite the risks, migration through Yemen continues unabated. Over 60,000 migrants have arrived in the country so far in 2024. In the past decade, more than 3,400 people have died or gone missing along this route, 1,400 of them due to drowning, according to IOM data.