At least 68 migrants died, and 74 went missing after a boat carrying 154 Ethiopian nationals capsized off the coast of Yemen on August 3, the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed.
The vessel sank in the Gulf of Aden near Yemen’s southern Abyan province, a frequent point of arrival for migrants seeking passage to the Gulf.
According to IOM officials, the boat, reportedly overcrowded and unfit for the journey, was part of a high-risk route regularly used by people-smugglers who deceive migrants with false promises of safety and opportunity.
This tragedy adds to a growing list of maritime disasters in the region. In March, four boats capsized off the coasts of Yemen and Djibouti, leaving at least two dead and 186 people missing.
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