Djibouti: Djibouti Shipwreck - Death Toll Rises to 139 As 84 Remain Missing

A migrant boat traveling from Djibouti toward Yemen capsized at sea. The shipwreck occurred near Guehere, north of Obock, in Djibouti, during the early hours of Friday. The disaster became one of the deadliest recorded on the Eastern Route.

The boat carried 305 people. It went down while crossing a dangerous maritime route toward Yemen. Search and rescue teams recovered bodies after the sinking, raising the reported death toll from 109 to at least 139. About 82 people survived, while many others remained unaccounted for.

Djiboutian authorities continued search and recovery operations after the wreck. The International Organization for Migration provided survivors with healthcare, food, shelter, psychosocial support and protection services at its Migrant Response Centre in Obock. The disaster also renewed calls for safe and legal migration pathways.

Of the 305 people aboard the boat, at least 139 died after it capsized. About 82 people survived, and 84 were still missing when the International Organization for Migration reported the figures. The numbers describe a disaster in which most passengers were either dead or unaccounted for.

The death toll rose from 109 after rescuers recovered 30 additional bodies. Search and rescue operations continued, so the figures could change as teams searched for missing people. Survivors were brought to assistance at the Migrant Response Centre in Obock.

The scale of the losses matters beyond the totals. Families were waiting for news about relatives, while survivors needed medical care, food, shelter and emotional support. The incident also intensified calls for governments and donors to create safer migration options before another boat sinks.

The Eastern Route is a migration route connecting the Horn of Africa with the Arabian Peninsula. In this account, it includes movement from Djibouti toward Yemen. The route matters because migrants continue using it to reach the Gulf, even though the journey can involve dangerous sea crossings.

The capsized boat was traveling from Djibouti to Yemen along this route. It carried 305 people and sank near Guehere, north of Obock. The International Organization for Migration called the wreck one of the deadliest shipwrecks recorded on the Eastern Route. That description shows the route’s human cost.

The article does not give a single reason why individual migrants choose the route. It does report continuing movement toward the Gulf despite risks and renewed fighting in Yemen. More than 20,000 movements into Djibouti from Ethiopia were recorded since 10 September, showing that the route remains active.

A shipwreck creates several immediate emergencies at once. Survivors may be injured, distressed, hungry or without shelter. Missing people require urgent search operations, while families face uncertainty and wait for information about loved ones. Deaths also leave families mourning without immediate answers.

After this wreck, Djiboutian authorities continued search and recovery operations. The IOM assisted survivors at its Migrant Response Centre in Obock. Its support included healthcare, psychosocial care, food, shelter and protection services. These services address both physical needs and the emotional effects of the disaster.

The article records at least 139 deaths, about 82 survivors and 84 people still missing. It also notes that children were among those who died. Search efforts continued, and officials expressed solidarity with victims, survivors and families waiting for news. The crisis shows why emergency response must cover both rescue and longer-term support.

The article reports that migrants keep heading toward the Gulf even though Yemen has returned to full-scale fighting. It does not identify one specific reason for every traveler or explain individual decisions. It does show that movement continues despite the known dangers of the route and the conflict.

Since 10 September, IOM tracking recorded more than 20,000 movements into Djibouti from Ethiopia. Over roughly the same period, more than 3,700 refugees arrived from Yemen, while 539 Ethiopian migrants returned from there. These figures show movement in both directions and continuing pressure along the route.

Many migrants are becoming stranded in Djibouti. More than 3,000 were seen along routes between 20 and 30 September, often without basic services. IOM Director General Amy Pope said people do not board such boats unless they believe there is no other safe way. She called for safe and legal pathways.

Djiboutian authorities are responsible for continuing search and recovery operations after the boat capsized. Their work includes looking for people still missing and recovering bodies. This response is urgent because 84 people remained unaccounted for after the reported deaths and survivors were counted.

The International Organization for Migration provides emergency assistance at its Migrant Response Centre in Obock. Survivors can receive healthcare, psychosocial support, food, shelter and protection services. This combines practical help with medical and emotional care after a traumatic event.

The two roles meet different needs. Authorities conduct the official rescue and recovery effort, while IOM helps people who survived the crossing. The response continues as fears grow for missing passengers. The disaster also highlights the need for stronger international cooperation and safer migration pathways, which IOM says can prevent deaths rather than only respond afterward.

Safe and legal migration pathways are authorized ways for people to move without relying on dangerous, irregular sea journeys. The article does not list specific pathway types. Its central point is that people need safer options when they believe a risky boat is their only route toward the Gulf or the Arabian Peninsula.

The shipwreck shows the mechanism clearly. A boat carrying 305 people sank, killing at least 139 and leaving 84 missing. If people could use a safe, legal alternative instead of boarding an overcrowded or dangerous vessel, fewer passengers would be exposed to the hazards that caused this disaster.

IOM Director General Amy Pope said safe and legal pathways save lives. She urged governments and donors to act before another boat goes down. The need is urgent because migration continues in both directions, people are becoming stranded in Djibouti, and Yemen has returned to full-scale fighting.