At least 109 migrants killed and dozens missing as boat capsizes near Djibouti

At least 109 migrants killed and dozens missing as boat capsizes near Djibouti A boat carrying hundreds of people has capsized off the coast of Djibouti in east Africa - at least 109 migrants including 15 children have tragically died At least 109 migrants have died after a boat with 305 on board capsized in east Africa. The disaster unfolded off the coast of Djibouti and 15 children have been killed, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The boat was travelling from Djibouti to Yemen when it capsized on Thursday night or Friday morning. The vessel turned over in the water near Guhere, north of Obock, a port town in Djibouti, according to survivors. As many as 52 men and 42 women are among the dead. More than 80 people survived the accident, while at least 116 others remain missing. Tens of thousands of migrants from the Horn of Africa travel through Djibouti and across the Bab el-Mandeb Strait towards the Gulf countries, in search of safety and economic opportunities, the IOM said. That movement has continued despite violence in Yemen. "This is a devastating loss of life," said Alexandre Coissac, IOM Chief of Mission in Djibouti. "Our thoughts are with the survivors and the families who have lost loved ones or remain without news of their relatives." "This tragedy is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by migrants along this migration corridor as they seek economic opportunities." IOM teams scrambled to the scene alongside Djiboutian authorities to provide emergency aid. “Djiboutian authorities are continuing search and rescue operations as fears grow for those still missing,” officials added. The IOM is helping 64 survivors at its Obock Migrant Response Centre.