A boat carrying more than 150 people has capsized off the coast of Yemen, leaving at least 76 dead and 74 missing, according to the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM). Only 32 survivors have been recovered so far from the shipwreck in the Gulf of Aden.
The vessel was on a dangerous route frequently used by people smugglers, heading to Abyan governorate in southern Yemen, a common destination for African migrants hoping to reach wealthy Gulf states. Yemeni security officials confirmed the recovery of 76 bodies and the rescue of 32 people.
Despite the ongoing civil war in Yemen, the country remains a key transit point for irregular migration, particularly from Ethiopia. The IOM recorded at least 558 deaths on the Red Sea route last year, mostly from boat accidents.
Ayla Bonfiglio of the Mixed Migration Centre noted that the route is controlled by smugglers and traffickers, leaving migrants with no alternative. Many feel compelled to risk the journey due to a lack of legal pathways and reliance on remittances from Gulf countries.
Yemeni security forces are conducting a major search-and-rescue operation, with bodies scattered across a wide stretch of shoreline. The tragedy marks one of the deadliest shipwrecks off Yemen this year.
