A boat carrying refugees and migrants from Africa to Gulf countries capsized off Yemen’s coast, killing 68 people and leaving 74 others missing, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The boat, carrying 154 passengers, all Ethiopians, sank early Sunday near Yemen’s Abyan province, close to the Gulf of Aden, said IOM Yemen chief Abdusattar Esof. Only 12 people survived the tragedy, including 11 Ethiopians and one Yemeni national. Authorities recovered 54 bodies along Khanfar district’s coast and another 14 were taken to a hospital in Zinjibar city. Rescue operations are ongoing but have been hindered by strong waves.
🚨 Yemen Migrant Boat Tragedy
• Boat with 154 Ethiopian migrants capsized off Yemen
• 68 dead, 74 still missing
• Only 12 survivors
• Migrants were heading to Gulf via Gulf of Aden
• Yemen remains a deadly transit route from Africa#Yemen #Colon #englot #OffGun pic.twitter.com/HASuZKOTOm— Eyes on the Globe (@eyes_globe) August 4, 2025
Yemen has become a crucial yet perilous route for migrants from the Horn of Africa attempting to reach Gulf nations in search of employment and food. These journeys often involve overcrowded, poorly maintained boats, frequently resulting in fatalities. The latest incident has once again highlighted the dangers of this migration route.
The United Nations expressed deep shock over the tragedy and called on the international community to take urgent measures to prevent such hazardous crossings by providing safer pathways for refugees and migrants. This incident is among the deadliest recorded off Yemen’s coast so far this year.