A tragic maritime incident off the coast of Djibouti has claimed the lives of at least 139 migrants, according to the United Nations' International Organization for Migration (IOM). The vessel, which was transporting 305 individuals from Djibouti toward Yemen, capsized near Guhere, north of the town of Obock, during the night of October 8 to 9.
The death toll rose to 139 after recovery teams located an additional 30 bodies. In an earlier statement, the IOM reported that the first 109 recovered victims included 52 men, 42 women, and 15 children—specifically nine girls and six boys. More than 80 people survived the disaster, all of whom are reported to be Ethiopian nationals.
"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, the IOM chief of mission in Djibouti. He noted that teams are working alongside local authorities to provide emergency assistance to those who survived. Coissac described the tragedy as a stark reminder of the extreme dangers migrants face along this corridor as they pursue economic opportunities.
Search and rescue operations remain ongoing as authorities continue to provide support to the survivors. The IOM reports that tens of thousands of migrants travel from the Horn of Africa through Djibouti annually, attempting to cross the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to reach Yemen and eventually the Gulf nations. According to the organization, these journeys are often driven by poverty, insecurity, and the escalating impacts of climate change, even amidst the current regional instability.
The IOM further indicated that since September 10, their Displacement Tracking Matrix has observed more than 20,000 incoming movements to Djibouti from Ethiopia. This disaster follows a previous incident in March, where a shipwreck off the Djibouti coast resulted in nine deaths and 45 people missing.
