No fewer than 68 migrants have died after a boat capsized off the coast of Yemen, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed on Monday.
Dozens remain unaccounted for, with only 12 survivors rescued from the vessel that was carrying 157 people, primarily Ethiopian nationals.
The IOM’s Chief of Mission in Yemen, Abdusattor Esoev, disclosed the updated figures in a statement to reporters, noting that the fate of the remaining passengers remains unknown as rescue efforts continue.
Earlier on Sunday, officials in Yemen’s southern Abyan province, known as a common entry point for smuggling boats, initially reported 27 fatalities. Local security agencies have since launched ongoing recovery operations to retrieve bodies from the area.
Despite years of civil conflict, Yemen continues to serve as a key transit route for migrants, especially from Ethiopia, who attempt the perilous journey via the “Eastern Route” across the Red Sea, hoping to reach wealthier Gulf states.
The ill-fated vessel was reportedly overloaded with migrants when it went down near Abyan’s shores. This tragedy follows a pattern of deadly crossings, often orchestrated by human smugglers who exploit migrants’ desperation.
Just last month, eight migrants died after being forced overboard by smugglers in the Red Sea, the UN migration agency reported.
The IOM warns that thousands of migrants remain stranded in Yemen, where many face severe abuse, exploitation, and life-threatening conditions.
In 2024 alone, the agency recorded at least 558 migrant deaths on the Red Sea route, 462 of them due to shipwrecks.
