At Least 139 Migrants Dead, 84 Missing After Boat Capsizes Off Djibouti
On Sunday, a UN agency shared tragic news about a boat that sank while making its way from Djibouti to Yemen, leading to the deaths of at least 139 migrants, including 15 children, with 84 still missing. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that the overcrowded vessel, which had 305 passengers—mostly from Ethiopia—capsized north of Obock during the night of October 8-9. Alexandre Coissac, the IOM's chief of mission in Djibouti, mentioned that survivors recounted how the boat began to sink immediately after they boarded. He called the incident “a devastating loss of life.” This event occurred on a treacherous route across the Red Sea towards Yemen.
Key facts
- At least 139 migrants died, including 15 children.
- 84 people went missing after the boat capsized.
- The vessel was carrying 305 people, most of them Ethiopian.
- The boat capsized north of the Djibouti town of Obock on the night of October 8-9.
- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported the incident on Sunday.
- The boat was heading from Djibouti to Yemen on a dangerous Red Sea route.
- Alexandre Coissac, IOM chief of mission in Djibouti, said survivors told him the boat started to sink backwards as soon as they got in.
- Coissac described the event as a devastating loss of life.
Entities
Institutions
- International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Locations
- Djibouti
- Obock
- Yemen
- Red Sea
- Ethiopia