Abyan: The death toll from a migrant boat disaster off Yemen's southern coast has risen to 92, a local health official said on Wednesday, as search operations continue for those still missing. Abdel Qader Bajameel, director of the Health Office in Abyan province, confirmed the grim figures and explained that the victims were migrants attempting to enter Yemen irregularly.

According to Anadolu Agency, most of the bodies were recovered along the coast between the provincial capital, Zinjibar, and the Ahwar district - a stretch of roughly 120 kilometers. Authorities have not yet released an updated figure on the number of people still unaccounted for, leaving families and communities in distress as they await news of their loved ones.

The tragedy unfolded on Sunday when a boat carrying around 200 migrants, primarily from Ethiopia, capsized off the coast of Abyan. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Tuesday that 56 confirmed deaths and 132 people were missing, including 14 women among the victims.

In response to the disaster, Abyan police announced on Sunday that they had launched a massive operation to recover the bodies of the migrants who drowned while attempting to reach Yemen aboard the doomed vessel. The incident has highlighted the ongoing risks faced by migrants who undertake such perilous journeys in search of better living conditions.

According to the UN agency, Yemen remains a common destination for illegal migrants from the Horn of Africa, particularly Somalia and Ethiopia. More than 60,000 illegal migrants have reportedly arrived in Yemen in 2024 alone, underscoring the scale of this humanitarian challenge as people continue to risk their lives to reach Gulf countries.