A boat carrying African migrants has sunk off Yemen’s western coast, killing 70 people, Yemeni officials say.<\/p>\n
The boat, carrying mostly Ethiopian migrants, sank off Yemen’s al-Makha port due to strong winds and rough waves, security officials said.<\/p>\n
Tens of thousands attempt to cross the Red Sea into Yemen every year, often in rickety, overcrowded vessels. Hundreds have died making the journey.<\/p>\n
Yemen is viewed by many migrants as a gateway to the Middle East or Europe.<\/p>\n
The latest sinking occurred on Saturday, with reports of the incident emerging on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The Red Sea crossing between the Horn of Africa and Yemen is one of the world’s major migration routes, BBC Arab affairs editor Alan Johnston says.<\/p>\n
Migrants dream of finding jobs and better lives in rich places like Saudi Arabia – but they are in the hands of unscrupulous people smugglers and, too often, never reach the Yemeni shore, our correspondent adds.<\/p>\n