Djibouti boat capsizes with 305 migrants on board, at least 139 dead and 84 missing in deadly shipwreck

A migrant boat traveling from Djibouti to Yemen capsized in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait area. At least 139 people died, including children, and at least 84 remained missing. The disaster became one of the deadliest incidents on this migration route.

The IOM said the boat overturned late on Thursday or early on Friday. More than 80 people survived, and all identified survivors were Ethiopian nationals. Rescue teams continued searching as concerns grew for those still unaccounted for. Personal belongings, including shoes, were found scattered along a beach.

The capsizing shows the extreme danger of the sea route between the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Migrants often travel on overcrowded vessels that are poorly equipped for the journey. The IOM said more than 900 migrants died or went missing along this route last year, and it called for safer migration options.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a narrow sea passage between Djibouti and Yemen. In geographic terms, it connects the Horn of Africa with the Arabian Peninsula. The article identifies it as the crossing used by migrants traveling from Djibouti toward Yemen and then onward toward Gulf countries.

Its importance comes from location and access. Migrants from Ethiopia and other parts of the Horn of Africa pass through Djibouti before attempting the sea journey. They hope to find work, safety, and better opportunities in wealthy Gulf nations. The crossing is therefore a major route for migration between Africa and the peninsula.

The route is also highly dangerous. Boats may be overcrowded and poorly equipped, while fighting has resumed in Yemen. The IOM said more than 900 migrants died or went missing along this route last year. The recent capsizing shows the human cost of relying on such a perilous crossing.

The boat was carrying 305 migrants when it capsized. The IOM reported that at least 139 people died, including children. At least 84 people were still missing, while more than 80 survived. These figures show that most people aboard were affected by death, disappearance, or a dangerous rescue.

All the survivors identified by the IOM were Ethiopian nationals. Rescue operations continued after the capsizing, because many people remained unaccounted for. Personal belongings believed to belong to migrants, including shoes, were found scattered along a beach. The scene reflected the violence and suddenness of the wreck.

The reported numbers use terms such as “at least,” “more than,” and “remained missing,” so the totals are not presented as a final accounting. The disaster was nevertheless among the deadliest on this route. It underlines the risks of crowded, ill-equipped vessels crossing toward Yemen.

Migrants from the Horn of Africa use this route because they are seeking safety and economic opportunity. Many hope to find work and better living conditions in wealthy Gulf countries. The journey begins through Djibouti and continues across the Bab el-Mandeb Strait toward Yemen and the Arabian Peninsula.

The IOM’s Amy Pope said people do not board boats like this unless they believe there is no other safe way. That explains why the movement continues even though the crossing is dangerous and Yemen has renewed fighting. The journey is driven by people’s need for security and opportunity, not by the safety of the boats.

Every year, tens of thousands attempt the route. The latest wreck shows the consequences when desperate travelers depend on overcrowded, poorly equipped vessels. The IOM is urging governments and donors to create safe and legal pathways, so people are not forced to choose between dangerous boats and the absence of alternatives.

The crossing is especially dangerous because migrants often travel aboard overcrowded vessels that are ill-equipped for the journey. Too many people and inadequate equipment leave little protection if a boat capsizes. The recent disaster demonstrates the consequences: at least 139 people died and at least 84 were missing.

The route also leads toward Yemen, where fighting has renewed. The article does not specify one particular effect of the fighting, but it identifies the conflict as an added danger while migration continues. People are therefore crossing a risky sea route despite dangerous conditions on the other side. More than 80 survivors were rescued after the latest wreck.

These dangers combine with the lack of safer choices. The IOM said more than 900 migrants died or went missing along the route last year. It is calling for safer migration options because continued reliance on unsafe boats is likely to bring further loss of life.

The International Organization for Migration reports on the disaster, tracks missing and dead migrants, and highlights the dangers along the route. Its Missing Migrants Project recorded more than 900 migrants dead or missing there last year. The IOM also shared video showing belongings found on a beach and reported survivor information.

Its officials are calling for urgent action. IOM Chief of Mission Alexandre Coissac said the tragedy showed the risks migrants face while seeking economic opportunities. Director General Amy Pope said people often take these journeys because they see no safer alternative. She urged governments and donors to act before another boat goes down.

The IOM’s proposed direction is safer migration. It repeatedly calls for safe and legal options to reduce deaths on this frequently used crossing. Such action would address the conditions that push people toward overcrowded, poorly equipped boats. Rescue operations continued after this wreck, but the organization wants prevention rather than repeated emergency response.

Safe and legal migration pathways are authorized ways for people to move without relying on perilous, irregular boat journeys. The article does not list specific programs, but the IOM says such pathways save lives. They matter because migrants often believe there is no safer way to pursue security and economic opportunity.

The latest wreck shows the mechanism clearly. A boat carrying 305 people capsized, killing at least 139 and leaving at least 84 missing. More than 80 survived, but rescue operations were still needed. If people had safer alternatives to overcrowded, poorly equipped boats, fewer would need to risk this crossing.

The IOM is asking governments and donors to create these options urgently. More than 900 migrants died or went missing on the route last year. Safe and legal pathways would not remove every difficulty, but they could reduce dependence on dangerous vessels and help prevent future deaths.