At least nine people have died and dozens remain missing after a migrant boat sank off the coast of Djibouti, authorities and the International Organization for Migration said.
The vessel, carrying more than 300 migrants and refugees, went down late Tuesday near Guehere in northern Djibouti, prompting an urgent overnight rescue operation by the country’s coastguard.
Djiboutian officials said the boat, a traditional galba-type vessel, was overloaded with approximately 320 people when it capsized in rough waters. Emergency teams, including divers from the coastguard’s Search and Rescue Department, managed to pull 266 survivors from the sea.
All those rescued were identified as Ethiopian nationals and were taken to a migrant response center in Obock for medical care and humanitarian support. Search operations for the remaining 45 missing people were still ongoing as of Thursday.
“This tragic shipwreck may sadly mark the first of many incidents this year,” said Tanja Pacifico, the IOM’s chief of mission in Djibouti, warning of worsening conditions as the region enters its hotter, windier season.
Dangerous Migration Route
The incident occurred along the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a narrow but perilous stretch of water separating Djibouti from Yemen by as little as 20 kilometers. It is considered one of the world’s most dangerous migration crossings.
Each year, tens of thousands of migrants from the Horn of Africa attempt the journey in hopes of reaching Gulf countries for work. Many rely on smugglers and overcrowded boats, often risking their lives at sea.
Those who survive the crossing face further dangers traveling through conflict-affected Yemen before attempting to enter Saudi Arabia.
Rising Death Toll and Trends
According to IOM data, more than 506,000 people used the so-called Eastern Route in 2025, marking an 18% increase from the previous year. Smugglers are increasingly using remote coastal paths through Djibouti to evade law enforcement.
Transit movements through Obock alone rose by 58% last year, highlighting the growing scale of migration through the region.
The Eastern Route has also become increasingly deadly. At least 922 migrants died or went missing in 2025—nearly double the 558 recorded the year before—making it the deadliest year since tracking began in 2014.
Globally, the United Nations recorded at least 7,667 migration-related deaths last year.
“These deaths are not inevitable,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope earlier this year. “When safe pathways are out of reach, people are forced into dangerous journeys.”
Djiboutian authorities have opened a judicial investigation into the cause of the sinking. Officials say findings will focus on possible negligence, smuggling networks and vessel conditions.
The majority of migrants on this route cite economic hardship as their primary reason for leaving home, with crossings expected to remain high in the coming months.
