Nearly 140 people died when a boat capsized off the coast of Djibouti

At least 139 migrants, including 15 children, have died, while dozens more are still missing after a boat they were on capsized off the coast of Djibouti, according to the United Nations agency for migration.

The boat had departed from Djibouti heading to Yemen, and was carrying 305 people when it capsized near the port city of Obock on Thursday night.

Approximately 82 people were rescued, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported.

The head of the IOM office in Djibouti, Alexandre Coissac, described this tragedy as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by migrants as they seek a new life.

Tens of thousands of migrants from the Horn of Africa undertake this perilous journey each year hoping to reach Gulf countries for safety and work, the agency stated.

The agency revised the death toll from an initial 109 on Sunday, after an additional 30 bodies were found.

Local authorities are also preparing a burial for the deceased, while the survivors – all of whom are Ethiopian nationals – are receiving medical care.

Yemen is still in the midst of a devastating civil war that has lasted for more than a decade. Despite the ongoing conflict, and increasing instability across the region, migrants continue to cross the Bab el-Mandeb strait heading to Yemen, driven by poverty, insecurity, and the worsening effects of climate change.

The IOM agency has stated that it is providing assistance to 64 of the survivors of the disaster, who are located at its emergency center in Obock; the services being provided include medical care and support aimed at reuniting them with their families.

According to IOM data, more than 900 migrants have died or gone missing while taking that same route in 2025, as the number of people attempting to make that journey has increased by 18 percent.

In March of this year 2026, nine people died, and 45 others went missing following an incident similar to the one that occurred on Thursday.

The conflict in Yemen has also displaced more than 130,000 people across the country, as reported last month by the United Nations agency responsible for refugees.

Thousands of Yemenis have fled to Djibouti to escape the civil war between Houthi fighters and the Yemeni government supported by Saudi Arabia.

Source; BBC