Over 139 migrants die after overcrowded boat capsizes off Djibouti

The International Organization for Migration said the vessel sank shortly after departing on Oct. 8, overwhelming local authorities.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sun, 11 Oct 2026 21:06:25 GMT

At least 139 migrants, including children, died after a boat carrying more than 300 people capsized off Djibouti’s coast on Oct. 8, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported.

What happened

The vessel left Djibouti on the evening of Oct. 8, heading toward Yemen. It sank close to shore soon after launch, officials said, because it was overloaded. The IOM said the boat had 305 people on board. More than 300 migrants were on board; 139 bodies have been buried by Djiboutian authorities, while dozens remain missing.

What the reports add

The Independent and the Los Angeles Times both cite IOM chief of mission Alexandre Coissac as the source for the death toll and the description of the sinking.
Both outlets note that the official count includes only those buried by authorities; additional bodies buried by migrants themselves have not yet been verified.
The Los Angeles Times reports that at least 84 people are still missing, making the incident one of the deadliest on the Horn‑of‑Africa to Arabian‑Peninsula route.
Both sources state that more than 80 survivors were rescued, all of them Ethiopian nationals.
The IOM said personal items – including shoes – were seen on a beach in video footage shared by the agency.
The agency warned the death toll could still rise and that rescue work continued as fears grew for the missing.
Both reports quote Coissac saying the tragedy is “a devastating loss of life” and a stark reminder of the dangers faced by migrants on this corridor.

What was said

“What is terrible is that they were buried with no names, in a common grave, like in a war situation,” Coissac told the Associated Press via phone.

“They all have a mother, a father, and we may never learn what happened.”

“The local authorities did their best, but they were overwhelmed with all the bodies that kept coming at once towards the shore.”

“They’re all in a state of shock.”

“This is a 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.”

How it came about

The tragedy follows a surge in migrant departures from Djibouti toward Yemen, a route highlighted in Felo’s earlier coverage of fuel shortages in Yemen that have pushed refugees toward Djibouti (fuel shortage article). Earlier this month, Felo reported that more than 100 migrants died in a similar capsizing off Djibouti, underscoring the growing risk of overcrowded vessels on this crossing.

Key facts

At least 139 migrants died in the capsizing off Djibouti (independent.co.uk)
More than 300 migrants were on board the boat (latimes.com)
The boat sank shortly after departing on Oct. 8 near the shore (independent.co.uk)
84 people remain missing according to the Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)
Survivors are being taken to an IOM rescue centre in Obock (independent.co.uk)