At least 54 migrants have died after a boat carrying approximately 150 people capsized off the coast of Yemen due to severe weather conditions, according to medics who spoke with Reuters.
The tragic incident occurred on Saturday evening when strong winds caused the vessel to overturn in the Arabian Sea near Shaqra, located in Yemen’s Abyan Governorate.
Local health authorities reported that rescue teams managed to recover 54 bodies that had washed ashore along the beaches and nearby coastal areas. Abdul Qader Bajamil, the director of the health office in Zanzibar, told that 12 survivors were rescued and immediately transported to Shaqra Hospital for medical treatment.
He also confirmed that ongoing search operations continue under challenging weather and sea conditions, although hopes of finding more survivors remain slim.
Efforts are now underway to arrange for the burial of the deceased in an area near the city of Shaqra. Authorities and local officials are working together to identify the victims and ensure proper procedures are followed.
The ill-fated boat was reportedly carrying a large number of Ethiopian nationals, part of a continuing pattern of migration through Yemen despite the country’s prolonged civil conflict, which has raged since 2014.
Many migrants, especially from Ethiopia and other parts of the Horn of Africa, take dangerous and illegal sea routes to reach Yemen in hopes of eventually making their way to the wealthy Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in search of employment and better living conditions.
The Bab al-Mandab Strait—an important chokepoint for global trade linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden—has also become a notorious corridor for human trafficking and irregular migration. Despite the dangers, thousands attempt this crossing each year, often in overcrowded and unseaworthy boats operated by smugglers.
According to the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM), tens of thousands of migrants have become stranded in Yemen, many of whom face horrific conditions including physical abuse, exploitation, and lack of access to basic necessities.
This latest tragedy underscores the growing humanitarian crisis linked to migration through the region. International organizations continue to call for enhanced protection measures and more robust search and rescue operations to reduce the loss of life in one of the world’s most dangerous migration routes.
