At Least 139 Dead After Migrant Ship Capsizes Off Djibouti En Route to War-Torn Yemen

At least 139 people died and 80 others are missing after a boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of northeastern Africa in Djibouti, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a UN agency, said on October 11 (local time).

According to the IOM, the vessel carrying 350 people toward Yemen capsized off the coast near the northern port city of Obock between the night of October 8 and the early hours of October 9.

Among the 139 bodies recovered were 15 children (9 girls and 6 boys).

Some 80 survivors were all confirmed to be Ethiopian nationals.

Alexandre Cauzasque, the IOM chief of mission in Djibouti, told the Associated Press that the current death toll only accounts for bodies recovered and buried by Djiboutian authorities.

Because some bodies were buried directly by migrants and have not yet been officially verified by authorities, the actual death toll could rise further.

Currently, the IOM is working with Djiboutian authorities to conduct emergency rescue and relief operations on the ground, and is supporting about 80 survivors at a migrant center in Obock.

Search and rescue operations for the missing are also underway.

This disaster is considered one of the worst accidents on the perilous migration route from the Horn of Africa across the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to the Arabian Peninsula.

The IOM noted that poverty, insecurity, and the adverse impacts of climate change are driving many to embark on life-threatening journeys despite instability in the Middle East.

In particular, even as armed conflict intensifies across the strait in Yemen between the internationally recognized government backed by Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, migrants searching for jobs in Gulf countries continue to make the crossing.

Every year, tens of thousands of African migrants take this sea route to wealthy Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia in search of safety and economic opportunities.

Conversely, in recent weeks, more than 2,000 Yemenis have crossed over to Djibouti to escape the fighting and receive relief supplies, creating a contrasting wave of displacement against the African migrants.

According to IOM statistics, more than 20,000 migrants have crossed the border from Ethiopia into Djibouti since September 10.

Throughout 2025, deaths and disappearances of migrants on the maritime route to Yemen exceeded 900, and the scale of smuggling attempts increased by 18 percent compared to the previous year.

Previously, in March of this year, a ship sinking in these waters left 9 dead and 45 missing.

The IOM urged active support from the international community to boost the search and rescue operations and relief capacities of Djiboutian authorities.

IOM Director-General Amy Pope urged, "No one would board such dangerous boats if they believed there were other safe options," adding, "We must not normalize these deaths, and before another boat sinks, governments and donors must step up to establish safe and legal migration pathways."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.