At Least 139 Migrants Die After Boat Capsizes Off Djibouti

At least 139 people died after an overcrowded boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of Djibouti while heading toward Yemen, regional officials and monitors reported.

The vessel was part of a common migration route used by people seeking to cross from the Horn of Africa into the Arabian Peninsula. Many of those on board were from Ethiopia and other East African countries. Children were among the dead.

Djibouti authorities and international organisations have previously documented frequent shipwrecks on this route. The waters are busy with both commercial traffic and smuggling vessels. Rescue efforts recovered some bodies, while others remained missing.

The International Organization for Migration and other agencies track deaths on the eastern route from the Horn of Africa. Overcrowding, poor vessel condition and rough seas contribute to the high fatality rate. Similar incidents have occurred in recent months, including multiple deaths in the same waters.

Survivors, when found, are typically taken to shore for medical care and processing. Djibouti has limited capacity to handle large-scale arrivals and returns. Yemen, the intended destination, remains affected by its own conflict, which complicates onward travel for those who reach its coast.

The latest capsizing adds to the cumulative death toll on the route this year. Officials have called for greater cooperation on search-and-rescue capacity and on addressing the root causes of irregular migration. No detailed breakdown of nationalities beyond the overall count was immediately available from authorities.