38 killed, over 100 missing as boat sinks near Yemen

Officials say boat was carrying illegal migrants from Africa when it sank near Aden.

ADEN: At least 38 people, including women and children, have died and over 100 gone missing after a boat sank near the coast of Yemen, officials said on Tuesday.

They said the boat was carrying illegal migrants from Africa when it sank near Aden due to unknown reasons.

According to media reports, fishermen and local people rescued 78 of the migrants but over 100 were still missing.

The media reports said that survivors told the rescuers that about 250 people were on board the ship when it met with the tragedy due to high speed winds.

Officials in the eastern province of Yemen said that most of the migrants belonged to Ethopia who use Yemen as a transit point to reach the Middle East. 

Meanwhile, efforts were underway to trace and rescue survivors but officials said prospects to save more survivors were slim.

Hundreds of people have died in the last one year while using unsafe boats and ships to illegally enter different countries, especially in Europe.

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