A boat carrying 150 migrants, mostly Ethiopians, has capsized off the coast of Yemen, killing more than 60 people.

The boat capsized in bad weather on Sunday, July 27, 2017, and most of the dead are believed to be Ethiopians, the International Organization for Migration said.

The official said that while 12 people have been rescued so far, the rest are missing.

The IOM, which said most of the victims were believed to be Ethiopians, described the incident as "heartbreaking".

Yemen has been a major transit point for refugees from the Horn of Africa who are seeking a better life in the Gulf Arab states.

Yemen continues to be a transit point for many desperate refugees, especially those heading to northern Saudi Arabia.