76 People Killed in Migrant Boat Sinking Off Yemen Coast
- A boat carrying mostly Ethiopian migrants sank off Yemen’s southern coast, leaving at least 76 dead and dozens missing
- The vessel was part of a perilous migration route used by thousands seeking work in Gulf states despite Yemen’s ongoing civil war
- Officials and aid agencies warn of rising fatalities on the Red Sea route, where hundreds have died in recent months
At least 76 people have died and dozens remain missing after a boat carrying mostly Ethiopian migrants sank off the coast of Yemen, Yemeni security officials confirmed on Monday.
The vessel, which was en route to the wealthy Gulf states, capsized in the Gulf of Aden near the Abyan governorate, a region frequently used by smugglers transporting African migrants.
Source: Getty Images
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 157 people were aboard the ill-fated vessel. Yemeni authorities reported that 76 bodies had been recovered and 32 survivors rescued. Some of the rescued individuals were transferred to the nearby city of Aden, officials said.
The IOM initially reported a death toll of at least 68, but the figure was later revised as recovery efforts continued. The Abyan security directorate stated that operations were underway to retrieve a “significant” number of bodies from the wreckage.
Migrants risk lives on perilous sea route
Despite Yemen’s ongoing civil war, which has raged since 2014, the country remains a key transit point for irregular migration, particularly from Ethiopia. The migrants, many fleeing ethnic conflict and economic hardship, attempt the treacherous “Eastern Route” from Djibouti across the Red Sea in hopes of reaching oil-rich nations such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The Associated Press reported that hundreds of migrants have died or gone missing in similar shipwrecks off Yemen in recent months. The IOM recorded at least 558 deaths on the Red Sea route in 2023, with 462 attributed to boat accidents.
Last month, at least eight migrants died when smugglers forced passengers to disembark prematurely in the Red Sea, the IOM sai
The boat that sank off Abyan was confirmed to be carrying mostly Ethiopian nationals, according to both the province’s security directorate and an IOM source.
Human trafficking and exploitation persist
Migrants en route to the Gulf often cross the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a strategic waterway at the mouth of the Red Sea that serves as a major corridor for international trade, migration, and human trafficking. Once in Yemen, migrants face further dangers, including abuse and exploitation.
The IOM has warned that tens of thousands of migrants have become stranded in Yemen, where they endure harsh conditions and frequent mistreatment. In April, more than 60 people were killed in a strike on a migrant detention centre, an attack blamed on the United States by the Huthi rebels who control much of the country.
The Gulf monarchies continue to host large populations of foreign workers from South Asia and Africa, drawing migrants despite the risks involved in reaching these destinations.
Boat capsizes killing 4 women
Legit.ng earlier reported that Spanish emergency services reported that four women and three girls lost their lives on 27 May after a small boat carrying migrants capsized while arriving in a port at one of Spain’s Canary Islands.
Spain’s maritime rescue service located the boat approximately six miles (9.6 kilometres) offshore before it tipped over as rescuers started removing minors upon arrival at a dock on the island of El Hierro, according to CNN.
Source: Legit.ng
