IOM reports 109 dead in Djibouti shipwreck; Ethiopian survivors among those rescued
At least 109 migrants, including 15 children, died when a boat bound for Yemen capsized off Djibouti during the night of October 8–9, 2026, according to IOM. More than 100 people remain missing.
In short
- At least 109 migrants, including 15 children, died when a boat bound for Yemen capsized off Djibouti during the night of October 8–9, 2026, according to IOM.
- More than 100 people remain missing.
At least 109 migrants died when a boat travelling from Djibouti to Yemen capsized during the night of October 8–9, 2026, the International Organization for Migration said on October 11, according to reports by Reuters and AFP.
The dead include 15 children. More than 100 people remain missing, while more than 80 survived. IOM said the survivors were Ethiopian nationals; the reports reviewed do not establish the nationality of every person who died or remains missing.
Citing survivors’ accounts, the agency placed the capsizing near Guhere, north of the Djiboutian port town of Obock. Djiboutian authorities were continuing search and rescue operations, with IOM teams supporting emergency assistance.
The disaster occurred on a migration corridor connecting the Horn of Africa with Yemen and, for many travellers, onward destinations in Gulf countries. The crossing exposes people seeking work and safety to serious risks at sea.
The casualty figures reflect information reported on October 11 and may change as the search continues. The cause of the capsizing has not been established in the reports reviewed.
