The shipwreck of a boat that sank off the coast of Djibouti on the night of October 8-9 (Image: IOM/AFP via Getty Images)

At least 109 migrants, including 15 children, have died after a boat with 305 on board capsized off the coast of east Africa, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Sunday. The vessel was traveling from Djibouti to Yemen when it capsized on Thursday night or Friday morning, according to the IOM. Fifty-two men, 42 women and 15 children died. More than 80 people survived the accident, while at least 116 others are still missing.

Alexandre Coissac, the IOM’s chief of mission in Djibouti, said: “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. Our teams are on the ground alongside local authorities to provide emergency assistance. This tragedy is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by migrants along this migration corridor as they seek economic opportunities.”

Teams from the IOM rushed to the scene alongside Djiboutian authorities to provide emergency aid. Officials added: “Djiboutian authorities are continuing search and rescue operations as fears grow for those still missing.”

Tens of thousands of migrants from the Horn of Africa travel through Djibouti and across the Bab el-Mandeb Strait towards the Gulf countries, in search of safety and economic opportunities, the IOM said in its statement. That movement has continued despite violence in Yemen.

Migrant Boat Capsizes Off Djibouti: At Least 109 Dead, Including 15 Children, as Dozens Remain Missing

A devastating maritime disaster off the coast of Djibouti has left scores of families grieving after an overcrowded migrant boat capsized while travelling towards Yemen. The initial death toll reported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) was at least 109 people, including 15 children, while more than 100 others were initially reported missing. The tragedy has once again drawn attention to the dangers faced by migrants attempting to cross one of the region’s most hazardous sea routes.

A Journey That Ended in Tragedy

The boat was travelling from Djibouti towards Yemen when it capsized during the night of October 8–9, 2026, near Guhere, north of the port town of Obock. According to reports based on information from survivors, the vessel was carrying hundreds of people when it overturned.

The initial reports indicated that approximately 350 people had been on board. The IOM said that more than 80 people survived, while emergency workers and local authorities faced the difficult task of recovering bodies, assisting survivors and searching for those who remained unaccounted for. The victims included men, women and children, turning what had begun as a journey in search of opportunity into a devastating loss for families across the region. <Cite refs={[“turn276252search8″,”turn276252search12”]}/>

The number of people killed was especially distressing because children were among those who died. Each missing passenger represented a family waiting for news, often without reliable information about whether a loved one had survived. For relatives thousands of kilometres away, the uncertainty could be as agonising as the confirmed loss itself.

The disaster also placed considerable pressure on the people involved in the rescue and recovery effort. Local authorities had to coordinate operations along the coast while survivors required urgent medical attention and practical support. The IOM said it was working alongside local authorities to provide emergency assistance.

Survivors Face the Aftermath

Surviving a shipwreck does not mean the ordeal ends when someone reaches shore. People pulled from the sea may have swallowed seawater, suffered injuries or experienced prolonged exposure to dangerous conditions. They may also have witnessed the deaths of relatives, friends or fellow passengers.

The IOM reported that survivors were receiving assistance at its Migrant Response Centre in Obock. Support included healthcare and psychosocial assistance, alongside other basic needs. Some survivors were able to contact relatives and let them know they were alive, while others faced the painful reality that people travelling with them might never return.

Identifying the dead can be equally challenging after a disaster involving people from different communities and countries. Without identification documents or reliable records, authorities may struggle to establish names and notify families. This can leave relatives searching for answers long after the immediate rescue operation has ended.

For the survivors, rebuilding their lives will require more than emergency treatment. They may need continued accommodation, help reconnecting with family members and support in understanding what options are available to them. Their immediate safety and dignity must remain central to the response.

Why Do Migrants Risk the Crossing?

The route from the Horn of Africa through Djibouti and across the Bab el-Mandeb Strait towards Yemen is used by migrants hoping eventually to reach Gulf countries. Many are seeking employment and a chance to improve their circumstances. Others may be fleeing insecurity, conflict, drought or difficult living conditions.

The decision to undertake such a journey is rarely explained by one factor alone. Economic hardship can combine with family responsibilities, limited employment prospects, insecurity and the belief that opportunities elsewhere may offer a better future. For some people, the risks of travelling appear less immediate than the problems they face at home.

However, the sea crossing is dangerous even before considering the instability in the destination country. Overcrowded vessels, inadequate safety equipment, poor weather, limited communications and a lack of emergency provisions can turn a journey into a catastrophe. When a boat capsizes, passengers may have little time to escape, particularly if they cannot swim or are trapped beneath other people.

The IOM has warned that migrants continue to use the route despite the serious dangers. Its reporting has also highlighted the effects of poverty, insecurity and climate pressures on migration decisions. These circumstances help explain why warnings alone may not persuade everyone to abandon the journey. <Cite refs={[“turn276252news14″,”turn276252search11”]}/>

Yemen Adds Another Layer of Risk

For migrants hoping to reach wealthier Gulf nations, Yemen may be viewed as a stepping stone rather than a final destination. Yet Yemen itself has experienced years of conflict and instability, leaving many communities vulnerable and forcing people from their homes.

This creates a troubling contradiction: some migrants travel towards Yemen in the hope of finding a route to greater security or employment, while people already living in Yemen may be trying to escape in the opposite direction. The country’s difficult security situation means that reaching the other side of the water does not necessarily guarantee safety.

A successful crossing can therefore be only the beginning of another uncertain stage. Migrants may encounter exploitation, trafficking, detention or dangerous onward journeys. Those without secure legal status or adequate resources can be particularly vulnerable to people who promise transport, work or protection in exchange for money.

The shipwreck illustrates why migration routes must be understood as more than lines on a map. They are journeys shaped by conflict, economic pressures, personal hopes and the decisions of people who may have few safe alternatives.

The Human Cost Behind the Numbers

Statistics are essential for understanding the scale of a disaster, but they cannot fully capture the lives lost. The 15 children included in the initial death toll were not simply figures in a report. They were young people with families, relationships and futures that ended before they had the chance to grow up.

The same is true of the adults who died. Many may have been parents, partners, siblings or the main earners supporting relatives back home. Their deaths can leave families facing emotional trauma alongside the loss of income and the cost of making contact with authorities or arranging funerals.

Those still missing create a further burden. Until reliable information becomes available, their families may be unable to grieve with certainty or make plans for the future. In some cases, the absence of identification and the difficulties of recovering bodies can prolong that uncertainty.

The disaster is therefore not confined to the stretch of coastline where the boat went down. Its effects can spread across villages, towns and countries, reaching people who never saw the vessel but whose lives depended on those aboard.

Can Future Disasters Be Prevented?

No single measure can eliminate the risks associated with irregular migration, but the tragedy raises urgent questions about how those risks might be reduced. Governments, humanitarian organisations and regional partners face the challenge of responding to immediate emergencies while addressing the circumstances that push people towards dangerous journeys.

First, rescue capacity and emergency coordination matter. Authorities need the resources to respond quickly when vessels encounter difficulties, while survivors need access to medical care and protection. Reliable information-sharing can also help families establish whether their relatives are safe.

Second, efforts to combat human trafficking and exploitation must focus on those who profit from dangerous journeys. People arranging transport may make promises about safety or employment that cannot be fulfilled. Investigating abuse and holding responsible parties accountable can form part of a wider strategy to reduce harm.

Third, governments and international organisations must consider whether safer, legal routes and better access to protection or employment opportunities can reduce dependence on dangerous crossings. Such approaches involve difficult policy questions, including how countries manage migration, assess protection claims and cooperate across borders. They require practical agreements and sustained implementation rather than promises alone.

Finally, conditions in countries of origin and along migration routes cannot be ignored. Conflict, poverty, environmental pressures and limited opportunities do not disappear when a border is strengthened. Addressing these challenges is complex and often takes years, but the circumstances behind migration remain relevant to any serious attempt to prevent further loss of life.