At least 139 migrants, among them 15 children, died when an overcrowded boat carrying more than 300 people capsized off the coast of Djibouti, according to the United Nations' migration agency. The International Organization for Migration said the vessel was transporting 305 people from Djibouti toward Yemen when it went down near Guhere, north of the port town of Obock.
The IOM reported Sunday that at least 84 people remained missing, while more than 80 survived the disaster. All of the survivors were Ethiopian nationals, the agency said. The confirmed death toll includes only victims who have been buried by authorities in Djibouti and could rise as additional bodies are verified, IOM Chief of Mission in Djibouti Alexandre Coissac told The Associated Press.
Coissac said the boat sank shortly after departing on the evening of Oct. 8, «mainly because it was overcrowded.» Some victims were buried by fellow migrants, but they will not be added to the official count until authorities can verify the bodies, according to the AP. «What is terrible is that they were buried with no names, in a common grave, like in a war situation,» Coissac said. «They all have a mother, a father, and we may never learn what happened.»
Survivors were taken to an IOM rescue center in Obock, where they received medical treatment after swallowing seawater as well as psychological support. «They're all in a state of shock,» Coissac said. The crossing from the Horn of Africa to the Arabian Peninsula is a common but dangerous route for migrants seeking work in Gulf countries. More than 900 migrants died or went missing along the route last year, according to the IOM.
IOM Director General Amy Pope called for action in a statement following the disaster. «No one gets into a boat like that unless they believe there is no other safe way,» Pope said. «We cannot keep treating these deaths as normal. Safe and legal pathways save lives. I am asking governments and donors to act before the next boat goes down.»
The tragedy underscores the perils facing migrants who undertake the sea journey between the Horn of Africa and Yemen, often fleeing conflict or seeking economic opportunity. The IOM has repeatedly warned that overcrowded and unseaworthy vessels make the route one of the world's deadliest. The agency has documented hundreds of deaths annually, with the 2024 toll exceeding 900 along the same corridor.
Djibouti, a small nation on the Horn of Africa, serves as a transit point for migrants from Ethiopia and other neighboring countries aiming to reach the Arabian Peninsula. The IOM's rescue center in Obock provides shelter and assistance to survivors, but officials say the scale of the tragedy highlights the need for expanded safe migration options. The confirmed death toll includes only those buried by authorities in Djibouti, and Coissac cautioned that the figure could climb as more bodies are recovered and identified.
Authorities have not released the names of the victims, many of whom were buried in a common grave. The IOM said the survivors are receiving medical care and psychological support at its facility in Obock. The agency continues to coordinate with local authorities in the search for the missing.