On October 11, 2026, a boat with 305 passengers capsized off the coast of Djibouti while en route to Yemen. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) released information the same day, confirming that the vessel had gone down in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a narrow waterway linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The incident was recorded in the IOM’s chronology as a boat carrying 305 passengers capsizing off Djibouti, and the agency noted that the tragedy unfolded on that date.
All 305 people on board were identified as Ethiopian nationals, according to UN figures cited by the IOM. Among those who lost their lives, at least 109 people have been confirmed dead, a figure that appears repeatedly in the agency’s reports and claims. The breakdown of the dead includes 15 children, while 80 survivors were rescued from the water. Meanwhile, 116 individuals remain missing, raising fears that the final death toll could climb as search efforts continue.
The eastern migration route from the Horn of Africa via the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is frequently used by people from Ethiopia and Somalia who seek work in the Arabian Peninsula, especially in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. The IOM noted that this maritime corridor is extremely dangerous, with over 900 migrants killed or missing on this route in 2025 alone, underscoring how dangerous the passage has become. In the weeks leading up to the accident, over 20,000 Ethiopian migrants arrived in Djibouti within a three‑week period, a surge that intensified the pressures on an already hazardous journey.
Alexandre Coissac, also of the IOM, spoke in German; his words translate to: "This is a devastating loss of life.
Alexander Koisak, the IOM mission chief in Djibouti, described the event as "a great loss of life" and said it "is a grim reminder of the dangers faced by people traveling this migration route in search of economic opportunity." His stance was recorded as neutral. Alexandre Coissac, also of the IOM, spoke in German; his words translate to: "This is a devastating loss of life. Our thoughts are with the survivors and the families who have lost loved ones or still have no news of their relatives." He added: "Our teams are on the ground together with local authorities to provide emergency assistance. This tragedy is a poignant reminder of the dangers faced by migrants on this migration route in search of economic opportunity." The IOM itself was noted as supportive in its framing, while the organization as a whole was listed as neutral.
Rescue teams continue to search for the 116 missing persons, and the confirmed death toll stands at at least 109. The incident adds to a grim tally of lives lost on one of the world’s most trafficked and perilous maritime corridors, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by migrants who undertake the crossing in hopes of better livelihoods.