At least 76 migrants, most of them Ethiopians, have died and dozens remain missing after a boat capsized off the coast of Yemen in one of the deadliest migrant shipwrecks in recent months.

Yemeni authorities say the tragedy occurred in the Gulf of Aden near Abyan governorate, a common landing spot for smugglers transporting African migrants en route to the wealthy Gulf nations.

The vessel was carrying 157 people, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with only 32 survivors rescued so far.

Rescue efforts are ongoing, with security forces working to recover more bodies. Some of the survivors were transferred to the port city of Aden. The IOM earlier confirmed 68 deaths, but local officials revised the toll to 76 by Monday.

Despite the years-long civil war in Yemen, the country remains a crucial corridor for irregular migration, especially along the so-called "Eastern Route" that sees thousands cross the Red Sea from Djibouti and Somalia to Yemen every year.

Many of these migrants, fleeing economic hardship or conflict in the Horn of Africa, hope to reach oil-rich states like Saudi Arabia and the UAE in search of better opportunities.

But the journey is perilous. The IOM reported at least 558 migrant deaths along the Red Sea route in 2023 most from shipwrecks. Just last month, smugglers forced dozens of migrants to jump into the sea, resulting in at least eight deaths.

Officials say the latest vessel was dangerously overcrowded and lacked basic safety measures. Most of the passengers were believed to be Ethiopian nationals, a group increasingly vulnerable to exploitation by human traffickers.

The Bab al-Mandab Strait, where the boat is believed to have passed, is not only a global trade route but also a hotspot for migrant smuggling and human trafficking. Once in Yemen, migrants face new threats including abuse, detention, and exploitation. Tens of thousands are believed to be stranded there under desperate conditions.

April saw further tragedy when a reported U.S. airstrike hit a migrant detention center in Yemen, killing over 60 people, according to the Huthi rebels.

The Gulf monarchies remain major destinations for migrant labor, hosting large populations from both South Asia and Africa.