On August 3, 2025, a boat carrying around 154 Ethiopian migrants capsized off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden near the southern province of Abyan. The tragedy resulted in the deaths of at least 68 migrants, with 74 others still missing and presumed dead. Only 12 people survived the incident.
The boat was overloaded and lacked sufficient life jackets, a common issue leading to such disasters along this perilous migration route from the Horn of Africa to the wealthy Gulf states. Yemeni security officials and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) are conducting ongoing search and rescue operations.
The remains of many victims washed ashore along a wide area of the coastline, and local authorities have arranged for their urgent burial to prevent an environmental hazard. The survivors and recovered bodies were taken to hospitals in neighboring towns like Zinjibar and Aden.
This incident highlights the extreme dangers faced by African migrants attempting to reach employment in Gulf countries through risky sea crossings. The route is notorious for overcrowded boats, smuggling, and frequent shipwrecks, especially amidst Yemen’s prolonged civil conflict.