Overcrowded vessel sinks off Djibouti coast; dozens still missing in one of the deadliest incidents on the Horn of Africa migration corridor.
At least 139 migrants, including 15 children, have died after an overcrowded boat capsized while travelling from Djibouti to Yemen, the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) has confirmed. Around 84 people remain missing, and approximately 82 survivors-all Ethiopian nationals-have been rescued.
Deadly Migrant Boat Sinking Off Djibouti Leaves 50 Dead:
The vessel, carrying about 305 people, sank near Guhere, north of the port town of Obock, during the night of 8-9 October. Survivors told aid workers that the boat began to sink almost immediately after passengers boarded. Many of those on board were Ethiopians seeking to reach Yemen as a transit point toward wealthier Gulf countries in search of work and better opportunities.
IOM teams are working alongside Djiboutian authorities to provide emergency medical care, food, shelter and psychological support to survivors at a response centre in Obock. Search and recovery operations continue amid fears the death toll could rise further. Photographs released by the agency showed personal belongings, including shoes, washed up on the shore near the wreck site.
Alexandre Coissac, IOM’s chief of mission in Djibouti, described the loss of life as “devastating.” “Our thoughts are with the survivors and the families who have lost loved ones or remain without news of their relatives,” he said. He noted that some of those who died had previously attempted the crossing and been turned back, only to try again.
IOM Warns of Rising Risks on Deadly Migration Route:
The incident ranks among the deadliest recorded on the Eastern Route-the perilous sea corridor linking the Horn of Africa to the Arabian Peninsula via the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Tens of thousands of people, mainly from Ethiopia and Somalia, attempt the journey each year despite the high risks of overcrowded and unseaworthy vessels, rough seas and exploitation by smugglers. In 2025 alone, more than 900 migrants died or went missing along this route, according to IOM figures. Recent months have seen a surge in movements, with more than 20,000 crossings from Ethiopia into Djibouti recorded since mid-September.
Yemen itself remains gripped by conflict between the Saudi-backed government and Houthi forces, creating a complex and dangerous environment for both arriving migrants and Yemenis fleeing the fighting. Despite the instability, many migrants continue to view the route as a pathway to economic opportunities in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.
Humanitarian agencies have renewed calls for expanded search-and-rescue capacity, improved protection for migrants in transit countries, and the creation of safer, legal migration pathways. “No one gets into a boat like that unless they believe there is no other safe way,” IOM Director General Amy Pope said in response to the tragedy, urging governments and donors to act before further lives are lost. As recovery efforts continue along Djibouti’s northern coast, the latest disaster underscores the human cost of irregular migration across one of the world’s most dangerous sea routes.