At least 109 migrants dead after boat capsizes off Djibouti

Summarised from 5 outlets · Updated 11 Oct, 12:44 · Archive

A boat carrying 350 people capsized en route from Djibouti to Yemen, killing at least 109 migrants including 15 children and leaving 116 missing.

A boat capsized off the coast of Djibouti on the night of 8-9 October whilst en route from Djibouti to Yemen. The vessel was carrying approximately 350 people. The International Organisation for Migration confirmed on Sunday that at least 109 migrants had died and 116 remained missing.

Among those killed were 15 children—nine girls and six boys—alongside 52 men and 42 women. More than 80 people survived the capsizing, all Ethiopian nationals. The IOM is assisting 64 survivors at its Obock Migrant Response Centre, and Djiboutian authorities are continuing search and rescue operations for those still missing.

The boat capsized near Guhere, north of the port town of Obock in Djibouti, according to accounts from survivors. The vessel was one of many attempting to cross the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key migration route used by migrants seeking to reach Gulf countries.

Alexandre Coissac, IOM chief of mission in Djibouti, called the loss of life 'devastating' and said the organisation's teams were on the ground alongside local authorities providing emergency assistance. 'This tragedy is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by migrants along this migration corridor as they seek economic opportunities,' he said in a statement.

The IOM noted that tens of thousands of migrants travel through Djibouti annually to cross the strait. According to the agency, more than 900 migrants died or went missing along this route in 2025. The organisation attributed the continued migration to poverty, insecurity and the growing impacts of climate change, despite mounting instability across the Middle East, including ongoing conflict in Yemen.

The IOM has reported detecting more than 20,000 crossings from Djibouti to Yemen in the past month. Most migrants attempting the journey are from Ethiopia and Somalia. The agency has urged donors and partners to strengthen support for Djibouti's response efforts, including search and rescue operations and life-saving assistance.

How it is being reported

• At least 109 migrants killed and dozens missing as boat capsizes near DjiboutiA boat carrying hundreds of people has capsized off the coast of Djibouti in east Africa - at least 109 migrants including 15 children have tragically diedThe Mirror · 11 Oct, 12:36
• A migrant boat sank off the coast of Djibouti with the UN reporting over 200 people dead or missingThe UN migration agency has reported that at least 109 people were killed and 116 remain missing after a migrant boat sank overnight on its way to Yemen. At least 80 Ethiopians survived the incident but 15 children died.DW News · 11 Oct, 12:35
• Children among 109 dead after migrant boat capsizes off AfricaThe boat carrying about 350 people capsized while sailing from Djibouti to YemenIndependent World · 11 Oct, 11:40
• 109 dead after ship sinks off coast of Djibouti, UN agency saysA ship has sunk off the coast of Djibouti, leaving 109 dead and 116 missing, a United Nations agency has reported.Sky News · 11 Oct, 11:08
• At least 109 migrants dead, more than 100 missing after boat capsizes off DjiboutiAt least 109 migrants, including 15 children, died and 116 went missing after a boat carrying 350 people capsized off Djibouti en route to Yemen, the International Organisation for Migration said on Sunday.France 24 · 11 Oct, 10:24

In this story: Djibouti · Yemen · International Organisation for Migration · Alexandre Coissac · Ethiopia · Bab el-Mandeb Strait · Somalia · Gulf countries

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem