At least 139 migrants have died and 84 remain missing after a boat travelling from Djibouti to Yemen capsized, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Sunday, 11 October.
The boat was carrying 305 people when it sank near Guhere, north of Obock, during the night of 8 October into 9 October, according to IOM figures reported by Reuters. About 82 people survived.
Boat sank soon after departure
IOM’s chief of mission in Djibouti, Alexandre Coissac, told Associated Press that the boat sank soon after departure, mainly because it was overcrowded.
He said the official death toll counted people buried by the authorities. Other deaths would be added only after they were verified. The toll could still rise.
Emergency help for survivors
IOM is providing medical care, psychological support and other emergency help to survivors at its Migrant Response Centre in Obock.
Djiboutian authorities were continuing search and recovery work, according to the reports published on 11 October.
Dangers along the Eastern Route
The Eastern Route links the Horn of Africa to Yemen and Gulf countries, where many migrants hope to find work or safety.
The journey exposes people to dangers at sea, trafficking and detention. Reuters reported that more than 900 migrants died or went missing along the route in 2025, citing IOM’s Missing Migrants Project.
