SANAA(Dawan Africa) – At least 68 African migrants, most of them from Ethiopia, have died and 74 others remain missing after a smuggling boat capsized in the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Abyan province in southern Yemen, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The boat, which was carrying 154 migrants, capsized at dawn on August 3, 2025, near Zinjibar’s Khanfar district, following severe weather conditions. Local authorities said only 12 people survived the disaster and were transported to medical facilities in Shaqra.
Abdel Qader Bajameel, Director of the Health Office in Zinjibar, told Anadolu that the bodies of 54 Ethiopian nationals and one Yemeni had been recovered and buried. Rescue teams, supported by local police, are still searching for dozens who remain unaccounted for.
In a statement, IOM Yemen confirmed the updated toll and described the sinking as one of the deadliest maritime incidents involving migrants this year. The organization said many of the victims were en route from the Horn of Africa with hopes of reaching Gulf countries for better economic prospects.
“A boat carrying 154 migrants capsized in waters off Yemen’s coast, leaving 68 African migrants dead and 74 others missing,” IOM said in a statement on August 4, 2025.
Local news agency Yemen Window reported that 25 bodies were initially recovered from the shores of Shaqra and Zinjibar, both located along the Gulf of Aden.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that over 60,000 irregular migrants have entered Yemen in 2024 alone. Despite Yemen’s conflict and humanitarian crisis, the country remains a key crossing point for migrants from Ethiopia and Somalia who hope to reach the Gulf countries for better economic opportunities.
The Eastern Migration Route remains one of the world’s most dangerous corridors, with thousands of migrants routinely exposed to maritime disasters, abuse, and exploitation along the journey.
SOURCE: Anadolu Ajansı
