Aden, Yemen – August 4, 2025
At least 54 migrants have died and dozens remain missing after an overcrowded boat sank off the coast of Yemen, in what humanitarian agencies are calling one of the deadliest maritime disasters in the region this year.
The vessel, reportedly carrying over 200 people—mostly migrants from Ethiopia and Somalia—capsized in the Gulf of Aden while en route to Yemen, a key transit point for migrants hoping to reach Gulf countries in search of work and safety.
Local authorities and UN agencies confirmed that 54 bodies had been recovered, while over 80 people are still unaccounted for. Survivors say the boat was dangerously overloaded and lacked basic safety equipment.
“This is a heart-wrenching reminder of the risks that vulnerable people take when there are no safe or legal migration pathways available,” said Elena Martins, spokesperson for the International Organization for Migration (IOM). “Every life lost is a call for stronger international cooperation and humane migration policies.”
The route from the Horn of Africa to Yemen is one of the world’s most dangerous migration corridors. Despite conflict, poverty, and limited resources in Yemen, many continue to make the perilous journey, often falling prey to smugglers, abuse, and maritime accidents.
Rescue efforts are ongoing, though authorities say chances of finding more survivors are slim due to strong currents and the delayed response.
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