At least 109 migrants die after boat capsizes off Djibouti
More than one hundred people died when a vessel carrying 305 passengers overturned off the coast of Djibouti. The maritime disaster left dozens of survivors and more than one hundred other travelers missing at sea. The International Organization for Migration announced the death toll on Sunday.
The boat traveled from Djibouti toward Yemen, according to the IOM. It overturned on Thursday night or Friday morning. Search efforts confirmed that more than 80 people survived the accident.
At least 116 other people remain missing. The agency reported the deceased victims by group:
- 52 men
- 42 women
- 15 children
“This is a devastating loss of life,” said Alexandre Coissac, IOM Chief of Mission in Djibouti.
Tens of thousands of people from the Horn of Africa travel through the region each year. They cross the Bab el-Mandeb Strait toward Gulf countries, according to an agency statement. Migrants make the journey to seek safety and economic opportunities. Movement along the corridor continued despite active violence inside Yemen.
“This tragedy is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by migrants along this migration corridor as they seek economic opportunities,” Coissac said.
The International Organization for Migration works as an international body supporting displaced people worldwide. The agency monitors regional maritime routes and assists during major humanitarian emergencies at sea. Coastal nations often coordinate emergency responses with international teams during transit accidents.
The incident off Djibouti remains one of the deadliest maritime events on the passage this year.
