The International Organization for Migration reports at least 139 deaths and 84 missing after a boat carrying 305 migrants capsized near Djibouti. Survivors are all Ethiopian nationals.
At least 139 people, including 15 children, have died after a boat carrying 305 migrants capsized off the coast of Djibouti, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Another 84 people remain missing in what the agency described as one of the deadliest shipwrecks on the migration route from the Horn of Africa to the Arabian Peninsula.
The boat was traveling from Djibouti to Yemen when it capsized near Guhere, north of the fishing town of Obock, during the night of 8-9 October. According to survivors, the incident occurred between Thursday night and before dawn on Friday. More than 80 people survived the shipwreck, all of whom are Ethiopian nationals.
Alexandre Coissac, the IOM chief of mission in Djibouti, stated that the death toll includes only those buried by authorities in Djibouti. He noted that others have been buried by migrants themselves but will not be added to the official count until authorities can verify the bodies. "This is a devastating loss of life," Coissac said. "This tragedy is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by migrants along this migration corridor as they seek economic opportunities."
Djiboutian authorities are continuing search and rescue operations, while local authorities provide medical care to survivors and arrange burials for the deceased. The IOM is providing healthcare, psychosocial support, food, and other assistance to 64 survivors at its Obock migrant response centre.
IOM Director General Amy Pope emphasized the urgency of the situation. "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 crossing involves the Bab el Mandeb strait, a waterway measuring just 20km (12.4 miles) at its narrowest points between Djibouti and Yemen. This route, known as the eastern route, is one of the busiest migration paths in the world, with hundreds of thousands of people, mostly Ethiopians and Somalis, using it annually to reach Gulf countries, primarily Saudi Arabia.
The movement continues despite escalating instability in the region. Fighting between the Iran-aligned Houthi rebel group and Saudi-backed government forces in Yemen has forced more than 3,800 people to cross to Djibouti to seek protection, according to the country’s office for assistance to refugees and disaster victims (Onars). The IOM recorded more than 20,000 incoming movements to Djibouti from Ethiopia since September 10.
The incident highlights the persistent dangers of the eastern migration route, where smugglers often cram migrants onto unsafe vessels. In 2025, more than 900 people died or went missing along this route, according to the IOM’s Missing Migrants Project, while the number of people undertaking the journey increased by 18%. The tragedy underscores the failure of current migration policies to provide safe and legal pathways for those seeking economic opportunities or fleeing conflict.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
The day's checked news, by email
One short email a day with the top stories. Free, and you can unsubscribe in one click.
Or follow for the latest news:
WorldTrending
Post-tropical storm Rachel brought coastal flooding, high winds, and heavy rain to Southern California and the Desert Southwest, prompting evacuations and warnings.
WorldTrending
A 17-year-old McDonald's employee was fatally stabbed by a 16-year-old coworker in a Houston-area restaurant restroom. The suspect has been charged with murder.
