Sun Aug 03 23:00:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and rewritten news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
A boat carrying 154 Ethiopian migrants capsized off the coast of Yemen on August 3, 2025, resulting in the confirmed deaths of 68 people and leaving 74 others missing and presumed dead. This incident is the latest in a series of tragedies involving migrants attempting to reach Gulf Arab countries via Yemen, despite the ongoing civil war. Yemen remains a key transit point for migrants from East Africa, who often face perilous conditions aboard overcrowded boats operated by smugglers. The UN’s migration agency, IOM, is involved in the search and rescue efforts.
**News Article:**
**Tragedy Strikes Off Yemen: 68 Migrants Dead, Dozens Missing in Boat Capsizing**
*Cairo – August 4, 2025* – A devastating shipwreck off the coast of Yemen has claimed the lives of at least 68 African migrants, with 74 others still missing and presumed dead, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The incident occurred on Sunday, August 3rd, when a boat carrying 154 Ethiopian migrants capsized in the Gulf of Aden, near the southern Yemeni province of Abyan.
The migrants were reportedly attempting to reach Gulf Arab countries in search of work, highlighting the perilous journeys undertaken by individuals fleeing conflict and poverty in East Africa.
“The bodies of 54 migrants washed ashore in the district of Khanfar, and 14 others were found dead and taken to a hospital morgue in Zinjibar, the provincial capital of Abyan,” said Abdusattor Esoev, head of the IOM in Yemen. Only 12 migrants have been confirmed as survivors.
The Abyan security directorate has launched a massive search-and-rescue operation, but the large number of missing and the wide area over which bodies have been scattered are hampering efforts.
Despite the ongoing civil war in Yemen, the country remains a major transit route for migrants from the Horn of Africa hoping to reach wealthier nations. Smugglers often transport migrants on overcrowded and unsafe vessels, leading to frequent tragedies at sea.
This incident is the latest in a string of shipwrecks in recent months. The IOM reported that hundreds of migrants have died or gone missing. While migrant arrivals in Yemen decreased from 97,200 in 2023 to 60,000 in 2024, believed to be due to increased patrols, the risks associated with these journeys remain alarmingly high.
First Piper 