Tragedy Off Yemen Coast: At Least 68 Migrants Dead, 74 Still Missing After Boat Capsizes

At Least 68 African Migrants Dead, Dozens Missing After Boat Capsizes off Yemen.

At least 68 Ethiopian migrants died and 74 remain missing after a crowded boat capsized off Yemen’s southern coast on Sunday, the United Nations migration agency confirmed.

The vessel, carrying 154 migrants, went down in the Gulf of Aden near Yemen’s Abyan province, according to Abdusattor Esoev, head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Yemen. Speaking to the Associated Press, Esoev said 54 bodies were recovered from the shores of Khanfar district, while another 14 were taken to a hospital morgue in Zinjibar, the provincial capital.

Only 12 survivors have been accounted for so far, with search and rescue operations underway along a vast stretch of coastline. Authorities say the remaining passengers are feared dead.

The Abyan security directorate launched a large-scale rescue mission after dozens of bodies were found scattered across beaches, underscoring the scale of the disaster.

A Perilous Migration Route
The tragedy is the latest in a series of fatal maritime accidents in the region. In March, four boats carrying migrants sank off the coasts of Yemen and Djibouti, killing two and leaving 186 others missing.

Despite years of armed conflict, Yemen remains a critical transit point for migrants from East Africa and the Horn of Africa who are attempting to reach wealthier Gulf nations in search of employment. Many of these journeys are arranged by smugglers who transport people in overcrowded, unseaworthy vessels—often with deadly consequences.

According to IOM figures, over 60,000 migrants arrived in Yemen in 2024, a sharp decline from 97,200 the previous year. Experts attribute the drop to increased patrols and enforcement in regional waters.

The IOM continues to warn of the growing toll on migrants who risk their lives crossing treacherous sea routes in pursuit of better opportunities.