Over 130 Migrants Dead, Dozens Missing After Boat Capsizes Off Djibouti Coast

At least 139 migrants, including 15 children, died when a boat carrying more than 300 people capsized off the coast of Djibouti, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The vessel was carrying 305 people from Djibouti toward Yemen when it capsized Thursday night or early Friday near Guhere, north of Obock. As of Sunday, at least 84 people remained missing, while more than 80 survived. All of the survivors were Ethiopian nationals.

"No one gets into a boat like that unless they believe there is no other safe way," IOM Director General Amy Pope said in a statement. "We cannot keep treating these deaths as normal. Safe and legal pathways save lives. I am asking governments and donors to act before the next boat goes down."

The confirmed death toll includes only victims buried by authorities in Djibouti and could rise as additional bodies are verified, IOM Chief of Mission in Djibouti Alexandre Coissac told The Associated Press. Some victims were buried by fellow migrants but will not be added to the official count until authorities can verify the bodies.

Coissac said the boat sank shortly after departing on the evening of Oct. 8, "mainly because it was overcrowded." Survivors were taken to an IOM rescue center in Obock, where they were receiving medical treatment after swallowing seawater, as well as psychological support.

"They're all in a state of shock," Coissac said.

The crossing from the Horn of Africa to the Arabian Peninsula is a common but dangerous route for migrants seeking work in Gulf countries. More than 900 migrants died or went missing along this route last year, according to the IOM.