At least 139 dead, dozens missing after migrant boat capsizes off Djibouti | Fox News: news
12-10-2026
At Least 139 Migrants Dead and Dozens Missing After Boat Capsizes Off Coast of Djibouti
At least 139 people, including 15 children, have died and approximately 84 remain missing after an overcrowded migrant vessel capsized off the eastern coast of Djibouti. The tragedy occurred in the Gulf of Aden near the Bab al-Mandeb strait after the vessel departed towards Yemen, according to the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM).
NewsCordKey Details of the Shipwreck
Vessel Capacity and Overcrowding: The vessel was carrying an estimated 305 migrants when it began taking on water and sank near the locality of Guhere, near Obock.
UA.NEWSCasualties: Search and rescue teams recovered 139 bodies, with dozens of victims still unaccounted for.
The HinduSurvivors: Emergency personnel and local authorities rescued 82 survivors, predominantly Ethiopian nationals.
Humanitarian Response: The IOM deployed emergency relief teams to provide critical medical care, psychosocial support, and assistance for survivors trying to connect with their families.
The Perils of the Eastern Migration Route
The corridor stretching from the Horn of Africa through Djibouti to Yemenfrequently called the Eastern Migration Routeis among the busiest and most hazardous irregular transit corridors in the world. Hundreds of thousands of migrants, mostly from Ethiopia and Somalia, attempt the crossing every year in hopes of reaching Gulf nations for employment opportunities.
Migrants regularly encounter exploitation by human smuggling rings, unseaworthy vessels, extreme weather conditions, and armed violence along the passage. The disaster off Djibouti’s coast underscores ongoing calls from humanitarian organizations for strengthened regional border protection, clampdowns on human trafficking networks, and safer legal pathways for vulnerable travelers.