At least 76 migrants have died and dozens are missing after an overloaded vessel capsized in rough seas off the coast of Yemen’s Abyan province, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported.
The boat was carrying migrants from the Horn of Africa, many of whom use Yemen as a transit point en route to Saudi Arabia and the UAE in search of work.
Authorities said 54 bodies washed ashore, and the total death toll is expected to rise.
Twelve survivors have been rescued, including two suspected Yemeni smugglers.
The Eastern Route is a well-known but dangerous path for migrants, controlled by smuggling networks. In March, two boats sank off Dhubab, killing about 180 people. IOM estimates that 60,000–100,000 migrants attempt the crossing each year, with up to 300 deaths annually.
