An official from Yemen’s government health department said on the 3rd that the African migrant boat capsizing that occurred on the night of the 2nd in southern Yemeni waters has resulted in 68 deaths, with 74 still missing.
According to Xinhua News Agency, Abdulqader Bajameel, head of the health department in Zanzibar, the capital of Abyan Province, southern Yemen, told Xinhua reporters that rescue teams have recovered the bodies of 68 victims from waters near Abyan Province. Earlier that day, the rescue team also saved 12 survivors and sent them to hospital for emergency treatment. Due to prolonged immersion in seawater and extreme exhaustion, some survivors remain in critical condition.
Abyan Province security authorities reported that all the victims and survivors are Ethiopian nationals. Local law enforcement has expanded the search area and has deployed more rescue forces.
According to a Yemeni government official, the International Organization for Migration and other humanitarian agencies have also dispatched teams to participate in the ongoing rescue operations and to provide assistance to survivors.
The Yemeni maritime authority has issued a warning that current sea conditions remain unstable and the weather in the incident area is still severe, which may hinder rescue efforts.