A Boat Capsized off the Coast of Djibouti, Claiming the Lives of At Least 139 Migrants

Djibouti – At least 139 people, including children, have died after a boat carrying more than 300 migrants capsized off the coast of Djibouti, with fears that the death toll may rise.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Sunday that the boat was carrying 305 people, who were traveling from Djibouti to Yemen. More than 80 people survived the disaster, while at least 84 others are still missing.

Alexandre Coissac, head of the IOM operation in Djibouti, told the Associated Press that the figure of 139 only includes those whose bodies have been buried by Djiboutian authorities. He stated that other migrants have also buried bodies, but they have not yet been included in the official count until authorities confirm.

Coissac mentioned that some of the deceased were buried in mass graves without their names being identified, which he described as a very tragic situation, as it is unknown whether their families will receive information about their whereabouts.

According to him, the migrants boarded the boat on the evening of October 8, but the boat capsized shortly after leaving the shore. The main cause of the disaster has been attributed to overcrowding due to the large number of people on board.

Local authorities have been working to rescue the living and recover the bodies, however, Coissac stated that it has been challenging to manage the large number of bodies arriving at the shore simultaneously.

The survivors have been taken to the IOM rescue center in the city of Obock, where they receive medical care, psychological support, and other assistance. Some of those individuals are reported to be in a distressing condition, while others have already learned that family members have died in the disaster.

IOM has stated that all the rescued individuals were Ethiopian citizens. The agency also mentioned that rescue operations...