A tragic accident occurred on Sunday, August 3, 2025, when a boat carrying around 154 migrants capsized off the coast of Yemen.
The passengers, mostly from Ethiopia, were trying to reach the Gulf states in search of better opportunities.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), at least 68 people have been confirmed dead, while 74 others are still missing.
The boat sank in the Gulf of Aden, near the southern Yemeni province of Abyan. Only 12 people were rescued from the waters.
Local authorities and rescue teams later found bodies along the beaches in Khanfar district, while others were taken to a morgue in the city of Zinjibar.
A large number of those onboard remain unaccounted for and are feared to have drowned.
This is not the first incident of its kind. Many migrants from the Horn of Africa continue to risk dangerous sea routes to escape poverty, violence, or lack of jobs.
Yemen, despite its ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis, remains a common stopover for people trying to reach countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The IOM reports that more than 500 people died on similar routes in 2024, with the majority of those deaths caused by unsafe boats and overcrowding.
This year, the numbers continue to grow. Just a few months ago, four other boats sank between Yemen and Djibouti, leaving nearly 200 people missing.
Officials say that smugglers often use unsafe vessels and pack them with too many people.
Many of these journeys happen in the early hours, making rescue efforts harder.
Local authorities in Abyan launched a search operation soon after the sinking, but rough conditions made recovery difficult.
This incident shows the ongoing danger faced by migrants trying to cross the sea in search of a better life.