At least 109 migrants die as boat capsizes off Djibouti, IOM says

At least 109 migrants died after a boat capsized off the coast of Djibouti, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said in a statement on Sunday.

According to the IOM, the boat was carrying about 350 people. It was travelling from Djibouti to Yemen.

The IOM statement said the 109 bodies recovered were 52 men, 42 women and 15 children. The children were nine girls and six boys.

Survivors cited in the IOM statement said the vessel capsized north of the Djiboutian town of Obock. More than 80 people survived. All of them are Ethiopian nationals.

The IOM said its teams were on the ground with Djiboutian authorities to provide emergency aid.

According to France 24, The Hindu and Le Monde, the boat sank overnight on 8-9 October.

"This is a devastating loss of life. Our thoughts are with the survivors and the families who have lost loved ones or remain without news of their relatives," Alexandre Coissac, the IOM's chief of mission in Djibouti, said in the IOM statement, as quoted by France 24.

What is disputed

• Number of missing: France 24, Daily Sabah, The Hindu and Le Monde put the number at about 116. Reuters reports more than 116.
• Timing: France 24, The Hindu and Le Monde say the boat sank overnight on 8-9 October. Daily Sabah says 8 October. The two versions may be compatible.
• Date of the IOM statement: France 24, Daily Sabah and Reuters say Sunday and give no calendar date. The Hindu gives Sunday, 10 October 2026.

What each side says

• Alexandre Coissac, IOM: "This tragedy is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by migrants along this migration corridor as they seek economic opportunities," he said, according to France 24. The reports describe the route as crossing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to Yemen and then reaching Gulf countries.
• IOM: "Poverty, insecurity and the growing impacts of climate change drive many to undertake this journey, despite mounting instability across the Middle East," the organisation said, according to France 24.

What is not known

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not describe the cause of the capsizing. They do not include statements from the authorities of Djibouti, Yemen or Ethiopia. They do not state the nationalities of the dead or the missing. They do not say who operated or organised the boat, or where exactly it departed from. They do not describe the status of search and rescue operations.

The reported figures do not fully add up. About 350 people were on board. At least 109 are dead, about 116 are missing and more than 80 survived. The reports do not explain the difference. They also do not say whether the death toll is final.

Analysis

All the reports reviewed by Vocemundi trace back to one IOM statement. Coverage came through two separate agency accounts. The core figures are therefore consistent, but they come from one primary source. Several questions remain open. These include the cause of the sinking, the fate of the missing and the gap in the passenger count. The death toll may change if search operations continue or if more information emerges. Statements from authorities in Djibouti, Yemen or Ethiopia could add details about the boat and its passengers. The IOM links the journey to poverty, insecurity and climate change. Other factors may also play a role.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.