109 migrants, including 15 children, dead as boat capsizes off Djibouti coast

At least 109 migrants, including 15 children, have died after a boat carrying 305 people capsized off the coast of Djibouti in East Africa, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Sunday, as rescue teams continued searching for at least 116 people who remained missing.

The vessel was travelling from Djibouti to Yemen across the Bab el-Mandeb Strait when it capsized late Thursday night or early Friday morning. More than 80 people survived the disaster, although the authorities feared the death toll could rise as search operations continued.

According to the IOM, the confirmed fatalities included 52 men, 42 women and 15 children. The organisation said the tragedy highlighted the dangers faced by migrants attempting to cross one of the world's busiest and most hazardous migration routes. Video footage shared by the IOM showed personal belongings believed to have belonged to the passengers, including shoes, scattered along a beach following the disaster.

Search for missing migrants

Authorities in Djibouti continued search and rescue operations on Sunday, with emergency personnel attempting to locate survivors and recover bodies from the waters off the country's coast. The circumstances leading to the capsizing were not immediately clear. The IOM did not provide details about the vessel's condition or whether overcrowding, adverse weather or other factors had contributed to the accident.

With at least 116 people still unaccounted for, the disaster has raised concerns about the fate of those who may have been swept away after the vessel overturned. The IOM said it was working with local authorities and partners to support the emergency response and assist survivors.

Survivors receive emergency assistance

The IOM said more than 80 survivors, all Ethiopian nationals, had been rescued. Of these, 64 were receiving humanitarian assistance at its migrant response centre in Obock, including healthcare and psychosocial support. The agency described the disaster as one of the deadliest shipwrecks recorded off Djibouti, as authorities continued recovering bodies and arranging burials.

"This is a devastating loss of life," said Alexandre Coissac, IOM Chief of Mission in Djibouti. "This tragedy is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by migrants along this migration corridor as they seek economic opportunities."

Dangerous migration corridor

Every year, tens of thousands of migrants, primarily from Ethiopia and Somalia, travel through Djibouti before attempting to cross the Bab el-Mandeb Strait into Yemen. Many hope to continue onwards to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries in search of employment, safety and better living conditions. The journey, commonly known as the Eastern Route, remains one of the world's most dangerous migration corridors. Migrants frequently travel aboard overcrowded and poorly equipped vessels, exposing them to drowning, exploitation and other serious risks.

According to the IOM, more than 900 people died or went missing along the route in 2025. The agency also recorded more than 20,000 movements from Ethiopia into Djibouti since September 10 this year, reflecting the continuing scale of migration through the region.

Despite ongoing violence and instability in Yemen, migrants continue attempting the crossing, driven by poverty, insecurity and the effects of climate change in their home countries. The latest disaster has renewed concerns over the safety of migrants using the route, with humanitarian agencies calling for stronger protection measures and safer migration pathways.