A vessel carrying over 150 migrants capsized off Yemen’s southern coast, resulting in at least 68 fatalities, with many more still missing. The incident occurred in the Gulf of Aden amid severe weather conditions, according to humanitarian officials.
Rescue teams managed to save 12 survivors, but the fate of dozens of others remains unknown. Most of those on board were reportedly Ethiopian nationals attempting to reach Gulf countries in search of employment.
Yemen serves as a key transit point for migrants from the Horn of Africa, despite the extreme dangers of the journey. Recent months have seen multiple shipwrecks along this route, with hundreds feared dead or missing.
Local authorities in Abyan province confirmed an extensive search operation was underway, with bodies being recovered along a wide stretch of coastline. The boat had been traveling through a notorious smuggling corridor, where overcrowded and unseaworthy vessels frequently operate.
Humanitarian organizations have long warned of the perils faced by migrants on this route, urging governments to expand legal migration channels to reduce reliance on smugglers. Without safer alternatives, desperate individuals continue to risk their lives, often falling victim to exploitation.
Earlier this year, two similar incidents near Yemen’s Dhubab district claimed the lives of over 180 migrants, highlighting the persistent dangers. Reports also indicate that smugglers have grown increasingly reckless, deliberately navigating hazardous conditions to evade detection.
Despite the ongoing civil war and instability in Yemen, the country remains a major crossing point, with tens of thousands of migrants arriving this year alone. Over the past decade, more than 3,400 deaths and disappearances have been recorded along this route, many due to drowning.
The tragedy underscores the urgent need for international cooperation to protect vulnerable migrants and combat human trafficking networks.
