At least 109 migrants, including 15 children, have died and 116 remain missing after a boat carrying about 350 people capsized off the coast of Djibouti while travelling to Yemen, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Sunday.
The vessel capsized overnight between Oct. 8 and 9, north of the coastal town of Obock, according to survivors.
More than 80 people survived, all of them Ethiopian nationals, the agency said.
“This is a devastating loss of life. Our thoughts are with the survivors and the families who have lost loved ones or remain without news of their relatives,” said Alexandre Coissac, IOM chief of mission in Djibouti.
The agency said 64 survivors were receiving assistance at a migrant centre in Obock as search and rescue operations continued.
The migrants were attempting to cross the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in search of economic opportunities in Gulf countries.
The IOM said poverty, insecurity and climate change continued to drive migration along the dangerous route.
More than 900 migrants died or went missing on the sea route to Yemen in 2025, while another shipwreck in March 2026 left nine dead and 45 missing.
Comments
Add a comment