Livestock vessel from Berbera sinks Off Yemen’s coast near Bab al-Mandab

A cargo vessel carrying hundreds of livestock from Somaliland sank Friday off Yemen’s southern coast near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, raising concerns about the fate of its crew and the safety of maritime livestock trade in the region.

The ship, which departed from the Port of Berbera, went down near Ras al-Ara in Yemen’s Lahj province, according to local sources. It was reportedly transporting about 400 sheep and 150 cattle, along with seven crew members.

Witnesses said the vessel sank close to shore, causing many of the animals to drown. Others were swept onto nearby beaches by strong waves. Images circulating on social media showed fragments of a wooden boat washed ashore and livestock carcasses scattered along the coastline.

There has been no official confirmation from Yemeni authorities regarding the cause of the sinking or the condition of the crew. Efforts to obtain details about possible rescue operations were ongoing.

The Bab al-Mandab Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, is one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors and a critical route for regional trade, including livestock exports from the Horn of Africa to Gulf and Middle Eastern markets.

The incident echoes a similar accident last year off the same stretch of coast, when another livestock vessel capsized. In that case, local fishermen were able to rescue the crew and some of the animals.

Berbera is a key export hub for Somaliland’s livestock trade, a major pillar of the local economy. Maritime accidents involving wooden cargo vessels, often operating under challenging weather and safety conditions, remain a recurring risk along the busy shipping lanes of the Gulf of Aden.