Tragedy strikes as a migrant boat capsizes near Djibouti, leading to 139 confirmed casualties, including children, highlighting ongoing migration dangers.
A boat carrying approximately 305 migrants capsized off the coast of Djibouti, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 139 lives, including 15 children, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The incident occurred near the port town of Obock during the night of 8–9 October. Initial reports indicated 109 fatalities, but the death toll was updated after further recoveries were made.
Survivors, all Ethiopian nationals, numbered around 82, as authorities continued search and rescue efforts in the region. The IOM’s Chief of Mission in Djibouti, Alexandre Coissac, stated, “This is a devastating loss of life. Our thoughts are with the survivors and the families who have lost loved ones or remain without news of their relatives.”
The victims comprised 52 men, 42 women, and 15 children, including nine girls and six boys. Djiboutian authorities are providing medical assistance to the survivors and making arrangements for the burial of the deceased.
The IOM noted that this incident serves as a stark reminder of the perilous journeys undertaken by migrants seeking better opportunities in the Gulf region despite significant dangers. Tens of thousands from the Horn of Africa embark on this risky route yearly, driven by poverty and instability.
Recent conflict in Yemen has further exacerbated the situation, with the United Nations predicting serious implications for regional stability and shipping routes due to the ongoing violence. Over 20,000 movements have been observed between Ethiopia and Djibouti amid the crisis as migrants flee deteriorating conditions in their home countries.
Coissac confirmed that the IOM remains dedicated to assisting migrants, collaborating closely with local authorities to provide necessary support and prevent similar tragedies in the future. The organization previously recorded that over 900 migrants died or went missing in 2025 while attempting the perilous journey across the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, marking a worrying trend in migrant safety in the region.
Djibouti, located just across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen, continues to be a critical passage for those looking to escape the ongoing humanitarian crises plaguing the wider region.
