Migrant boat disaster off Djibouti coast leaves nine dead, 45 missing in the Red sea

At least nine migrants lost their lives and 45 remain missing after a vessel carrying roughly 320 people sank off the coast of Djibouti, The Maritime Telegraph reported, citing the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The accident occurred late on March 24 near the northern coastal area of Ombok. Rescue efforts are still underway.

The IOM has not confirmed where the boat departed from or where it was headed. However, incidents like this frequently occur along the migration corridor connecting the Horn of Africa with Yemen. This sea route remains one of the most heavily used (and most dangerous) for migrants seeking employment opportunities in the Gulf region.

Every year, tens of thousands of migrants, mainly from Ethiopia and Somalia, travel through Djibouti hoping to reach Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. Many attempt the crossing across the Red Sea in overcrowded boats that lack basic safety standards.

This migration path, known as the Eastern Route, has become increasingly lethal. According to IOM statistics, 2025 recorded 922 migrant deaths along the route, more than double the figure reported the year before.

With dozens still unaccounted for, time remains critical for search teams operating offshore. The latest sinking underscores persistent safety failures affecting irregular maritime migration in the region and highlights the continuing operational risks along one of the world’s most hazardous migration corridors.

 

Picture: AP Photo / Francisco Seco