More than 100 migrants dead after overcrowded boat capsizes off Djibouti
The International Organization for Migration said the vessel was carrying about 350 people from Djibouti to Yemen when it overturned.
By Felo News Desk · Published
At least 109 migrants, including 15 children, died and 116 are missing after an overcrowded boat capsized off Djibouti on the night of Oct. 8‑9, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.
What happened
Survivors told IOM that the vessel, which had about 350 people on board, capsized north of the Djiboutian town of Obock, according to a statement released by the agency. The boat was en route from Djibouti to Yemen, aiming to cross the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait. More than 80 people – all Ethiopian nationals – survived the wreck.
What the reports add
- New Indian Express placed the capsizing north of Obock, while Al Jazeera reported the incident near Guhere on Djibouti’s eastern coast facing the Gulf of Aden.
- The IOM statement detailed that among the 109 bodies recovered were 52 men, 42 women and 15 children (nine girls and six boys).
- IOM said it was assisting 64 survivors at a migrant centre in Obock and that it had detected more than 20,000 incoming movements to Djibouti from Ethiopia since 10 September.
- Both outlets noted that in 2025 more than 900 migrants died or went missing along the sea route to Yemen, and that the number attempting the journey increased by 18 %.
- Al Jazeera added context about the broader regional instability, mentioning the US‑Israel war on Iran and the recent resurgence of fighting in Yemen.
What was 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," Alexandre Coissac, IOM chief of mission in Djibouti, said in the agency’s statement.
"Our teams are on the ground alongside local authorities to provide emergency assistance," Coissac added, lamenting the "devastating loss of life".
"This tragedy is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by migrants along this migration corridor as they seek economic opportunities," Coissac said.
"Poverty, insecurity and the growing impacts of climate change drive many to undertake this journey, despite mounting instability across the Middle East," the IOM statement read.
"Most of the people attempting the journey were from Ethiopia or Somalia, and many are ending up stuck in Djibouti," IOM spokesman Kennedy Omondi Okoth told AFP, as cited by New Indian Express.
How it came about
The boat’s departure from Djibouti reflects a broader pattern of migration driven by poverty, insecurity and climate impacts, as noted in the IOM statement. Since September 10, the agency has recorded over 20,000 incoming movements from Ethiopia, and last year more than half a million people attempted the route, with at least 900 deaths or disappearances. Earlier this year Felo News reported on the fuel shortage in Yemen that pushed many refugees toward Djibouti (Fuel shortage in Yemen drives migrants to Djibouti) and warned that continued arrivals could overwhelm local resources. The same migration pressure was highlighted in Felo’s coverage of the surge of Yemenis fleeing conflict to Djibouti in September (Thousands flee Yemen conflict, arrive in Djibouti).
Key facts
- At least 109 migrants died, including 15 children. (newindianexpress.com)
- 116 migrants are missing after the capsizing. (aljazeera.com)
- More than 80 survivors were all Ethiopian nationals. (aljazeera.com)
- The boat was carrying about 350 people from Djibouti to Yemen. (newindianexpress.com)
Where accounts differ
- Exact location of the capsizing: north of the Djibouti town of Obock (newindianexpress.com); near Guhere off Djibouti’s eastern coast (aljazeera.com)
Why it matters
The loss highlights the ongoing humanitarian risk on the Djibouti‑Yemen migration corridor and the strain on regional rescue capacities.
What happens next
IOM and Djiboutian authorities continue rescue operations and are providing emergency aid to survivors.
