Health officials reported that at least 54 migrants were killed when a boat with around 150 people on board sank in bad weather off the coast of Yemen, and dozens more are still missing.

Security sources confirmed that the boat capsized in the Arabian Sea off Ahwar District, Yemen's southern Abyan Province.

Abdul Qadir Bajameel is a provincial official in charge of health. He said that 10 people were rescued from the 150 on board - nine Ethiopians, and one Yemeni. However, dozens remain missing. Two medics confirmed that rescuers are still searching for survivors.

According to the International Organization for Migration, Yemen continues experiencing a significant rise in the number of migrants who arrive irregularly from Africa.

Every year, migrants cross the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which separates Djibouti from Eritrea and Yemen on flimsy vessels in the hopes of reaching Saudi Arabia or other Gulf countries to find work.

IOM calls the route between the Horn of Africa and Yemen "one of the most dangerous mixed migration routes in the world". The IOM said that it had recorded more than 60,000 migrants arriving in Yemen during the past year. Reporting by Mohammed Ghobari, Reyam Mkhashef and Hatem Maher. Editing by Alison Williams.

(source: Reuters)