139 Migrants Die in Djibouti Boat Disaster
At least 139 migrants, including 15 children, have died after an overcrowded boat carrying more than 300 people capsized off Djibouti while travelling towards Yemen, with dozens still missing as search operations continue.
Migrant Boat Capsizes Near Djibouti Coast
The vessel sank near Guhere, north of Obock, during the night of October 8-9 while attempting to cross the Bab el-Mandeb Strait from Djibouti to Yemen.
Authorities said the boat was severely overcrowded, contributing to the disaster.
More than 80 people survived the shipwreck, most of them Ethiopian nationals, and were taken to a migrant response centre in Obock for medical care and psychological support.
84 Migrants Remain Missing
The confirmed death toll has reached 139, including 15 children, while 84 people remain unaccounted for.
Officials cautioned that the number of fatalities could rise because the official count currently includes only bodies formally registered and buried by local authorities.
Some victims were reportedly buried directly by fellow migrants before authorities could verify them.
Dangerous Migration Route Claims Hundreds of Lives
The Djibouti-Yemen crossing forms part of the Eastern Route, one of the world’s busiest and most dangerous migration corridors.
Thousands of migrants, primarily from Ethiopia and Somalia, use the route in an attempt to reach Gulf countries in search of employment and greater economic security.
The journey exposes migrants to overcrowded and unsafe vessels, trafficking, extreme heat, conflict and detention.
More than 900 people died or went missing along the route in 2025, underscoring the continuing humanitarian risks facing migrants attempting the crossing.
