A migrant boat sank off Yemen’s coast, killing 68 Ethiopian migrants and leaving 74 missing, highlighting the dangers of smuggler sea routes.

On August 3, 2025, a boat carrying about 154 Ethiopian migrants sank off the southern coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden near Abyan province. Only 12 Ethiopian migrants were rescued alive, while 68 were confirmed dead and 74 are still missing and presumed dead, according to the International Organization for Migration. At least 54 bodies were found on the shore in Khanfar, and 14 were moved to the morgue at Zinjibar hospital. Authorities in Abyan province launched extensive search and rescue operations along the coastline to recover the remaining victims. Yemeni officials stated that the boat capsized during the night on Saturday. This tragedy reflects the extreme dangers faced by Ethiopian migrants traveling through smuggler‑controlled sea routes from the Horn of Africa to Gulf countries.

Migrant Boat Overturns off Yemen, Dozens Dead and Missing

Ethiopian Migrants Among 68 Killed in Gulf of Aden Shipwreck

Yemeni Authorities Recover Bodies After Deadly Boat Sinking

Nighttime Tragedy in Abyan Province Leaves Migrants Dead

Smuggler Route Turns Fatal for Horn of Africa Migrants

Search Operations Continue as 74 Migrants Remain Missing

Bodies Wash Ashore After Migrant Boat Capsizes off Yemen

Deadly Sea Crossing Highlights Risks for Ethiopian Migrants

BACKGROUND

The waters between the Horn of Africa and Yemen have long been a dangerous migration route for people seeking work or safety in Gulf countries. Many Ethiopian migrants pay smugglers to cross the Gulf of Aden in overcrowded and poorly maintained boats, hoping to reach Yemen and then travel onward to Saudi Arabia or other Gulf states. This journey is extremely risky due to rough seas, lack of safety equipment, and the absence of proper rescue services. Over the past decade, hundreds of migrants have died in similar accidents, and international organizations have repeatedly warned about the dangers of this sea crossing. Despite these risks, poverty, conflict, and limited opportunities in East Africa continue to push people to attempt this perilous migration route.

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