At least 139 migrants dead, dozens missing after boat capsizes off Djibouti coast
The boat was traveling from Djibouti to Yemen when it capsized on Thursday night or Friday morning, according to the IOM. More than 80 people survived, all of them Ethiopian nationals, it said.
At least 139 migrants, including 15 children, died and 84 people went missing after an overcrowded boat capsized while traveling from Djibouti to Yemen. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that the vessel was carrying between 305 and 350 people when it sank north of the port town of Obock. While the IOM initially provided a toll of 109 dead and 116 missing, Channel News Asia reports the agency revised these figures to 139 dead and 84 missing following the recovery of more bodies.
Survivors of the incident are all Ethiopian nationals. According to PBS NewsHour, more than 80 people survived the wreck, and Adom Online reports that medical care is available to them. Alexandre Coissac, the IOM chief of mission in Djibouti, stated that the boat began to sink backwards as soon as people got in it and described the event as a devastating loss of life.
IOM teams are working on the ground alongside Djiboutian authorities to provide emergency aid. Adom Online notes that local authorities are also arranging burials for the deceased.
Brief written by urgent.news from PBS NewsHour, Channel News Asia, CBC News, Adom Online, Al-Monitor — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Boat capsizes off Djibouti leaving 139 dead and scores missing thenationalnews.com
