At least 139 people, including 15 children, have died after a migrant boat capsized off the coast of Djibouti while traveling to Yemen, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The vessel, carrying approximately 305 passengers, overturned near Guehere, north of the port town of Obock, between Thursday night and early Friday morning.

More than 80 survivors—all Ethiopian nationals—were rescued and are receiving medical and psychological support at a local IOM center in Obock. Authorities, assisted by IOM teams, continue to search for at least 84 others who remain missing. The official death toll reflects only those bodies recovered and identified by Djiboutian authorities, with additional victims buried by fellow migrants awaiting official verification, which may raise the total fatalities.

IOM Chief of Mission in Djibouti, Alexandre Coissac, described the tragedy as a “devastating loss of life” and highlighted that the overcrowded vessel sank close to shore. Many bodies have been recovered, including 52 men, 42 women, and 15 children, though identification remains challenging. Survivors are reported to be in shock, with some able to contact relatives to confirm their safety.

The boat was part of a larger migration route used by tens of thousands from the Horn of Africa who cross through Djibouti and the Bab al-Mandeb strait in hopes of reaching employment opportunities in countries on the Arabian Peninsula, such as Saudi Arabia. Despite ongoing conflict in Yemen between the Saudi-backed government and Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, migration flows toward the region have persisted.

This incident is among the deadliest shipwrecks recorded along this corridor. The IOM’s Missing Migrants Project noted that over 900 people died or went missing on this route during the previous year. Coissac emphasized that migrants often undertake such perilous journeys because they see no safer alternatives to improve their economic situations.

The response from Djiboutian authorities faced challenges due to the scale of the disaster, as many bodies washed ashore simultaneously, overwhelming local capabilities. The IOM and local responders continue to provide emergency aid to survivors and conduct recovery operations.

This event underscores the ongoing risks faced by migrants crossing the Gulf of Aden and highlights the broader issue of irregular migration along this hazardous route, further complicated by regional instability in Yemen and neighboring countries.