At least 68 migrants have died after a boat with about 157 people on board sank off the coast of Yemen in bad weather.

The vessel capsized off Yemen's southern province of Abyan on Sunday, the Yemen chief for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) told the BBC. He said 12 people had been rescued, but dozens were unaccounted for.

Most of the victims are believed to be Ethiopian nationals, said the IOM.

Yemen is a major pathway for migrants from the Horn of Africa travelling to Gulf states in search of work. The IOM estimates that hundreds have died or gone missing in shipwrecks in recent months.

Abyan security officials said a large search-and-rescue mission had been launched and many bodies had been found across a wide area of shoreline.

IOM Yemen chief Abdusattor Esoev said the boat was on a dangerous route in the vast coastal area often used by people smugglers.

Mr Esoev also emphasised the importance of strengthening legal safeguards for migrants, to prevent them from being exploited by smugglers.

Source: BBC