At least 109 migrants, including 15 children, died and 116 others remained missing after a boat carrying 305 people capsized off the coast of Djibouti in East Africa, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Sunday.
The boat was travelling from Djibouti to Yemen when it capsized late Thursday night or early Friday morning, according to the IOM, reports AP.
The dead included 52 men, 42 women and 15 children. More than 80 people survived the disaster, while search efforts continued for at least 116 missing migrants.
Tens of thousands of migrants from the Horn of Africa travel through Djibouti and across the Bab el-Mandeb Strait towards Gulf countries in search of safety and better economic opportunities, the IOM said in a statement.
The dangerous migration route remains active despite ongoing violence in Yemen.
“This is a devastating loss of life,” said IOM Chief of Mission in Djibouti Alexandre Coissac.
“This tragedy is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by migrants along this migration corridor as they seek economic opportunities.”
