At least 109 migrants dead after boat capsizes off Djibouti
At least 109 migrants have died after a boat carrying more than 300 people capsized off the coast of Djibouti, according to the International Organization for Migration. More than 100 others remain missing after the vessel overturned near Guhere, close to the port town of Obock, on the route from Djibouti to Yemen. Around 80 people survived the disaster, and search and rescue operations were continuing on Sunday.
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The IOM said the boat went down between Thursday night and before dawn on Friday in waters facing the Gulf of Aden and the Bab al-Mandeb strait. Survivors told the agency that the vessel was carrying about 350 people when it capsized. The dead included 52 men, 42 women, nine girls and six boys, while all of the survivors were Ethiopian nationals, according to the agency.
The IOM said its teams were on the ground with Djiboutian authorities to provide emergency assistance. The agency said it was assisting 64 survivors at a migrant centre in Obock, where medical care and support to restore contact with families were being provided. Local authorities were also arranging burials for those who died, while fears remained for those still missing.
Alexandre Coissac, the IOM chief of mission in Djibouti, described the incident as a devastating loss of life and said it was a stark reminder of the dangers faced by migrants along this corridor. The disaster highlights the continuing risks on one of the busiest and most dangerous migration routes from the Horn of Africa to the Arabian Peninsula. The Bab al-Mandeb crossing is only about 20 kilometres wide at its narrowest point, but it is a major passage for people seeking work, safety or both in Gulf countries.
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The route remains active despite conflict in Yemen and wider instability in the region, as well as poverty, insecurity and climate pressures that continue to drive movement from Ethiopia and neighbouring countries. The IOM said it had recorded more than 20,000 movements from Ethiopia to Djibouti since 10 September. It also said more than 900 migrants died or went missing on the same sea route in 2025, while the number attempting the journey rose by 18%.
The agency said many of those travelling are from Ethiopia or Somalia, and some become stranded in Djibouti rather than reaching Yemen. A similar shipwreck in March 2026 left nine people dead and 45 missing. The latest capsize is likely to intensify pressure on Djibouti's response capacity, including search and rescue operations and support for survivors.
The IOM has urged donors and partners to strengthen assistance for emergency response and life-saving aid. The incident also underscores the scale of the humanitarian challenge along the Bab al-Mandeb corridor, where maritime crossings continue despite repeated warnings about the risks. What remains unclear is the fate of the more than 100 people still missing and whether the final death toll will rise further.
It is also not yet clear what caused the vessel to capsize or whether any additional survivors will be found. Search and rescue operations were continuing, and the IOM said it was working closely with local authorities as the response developed.
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