Migrant Boat Capsizes off Djibouti, Killing 9 and Leaving 45 Missing

A boat carrying more than 300 migrants capsized off the coast of Djibouti late on March 24, killing at least nine people and leaving 45 others missing, the International Organization for Migration reported. The incident occurred near the northern town of Guehere as the vessel attempted to cross the Bab el-Mandeb Strait toward Yemen, highlighting the perils of one of the world's most dangerous migration routes.

The Djiboutian coast guard launched an emergency rescue operation overnight, deploying additional personnel and diving units from its Search and Rescue Department. Teams recovered 266 survivors from the water, all Ethiopian nationals, who are now receiving assistance at the IOM's Migrant Response Centre in the nearby port town of Obock. The boat, a traditional galba-type vessel, had departed from Obock with around 320 passengers, many of whom described it as severely overloaded in initial accounts relayed to aid workers. Rough seas and strong winds contributed to the sinking, according to officials.

Search efforts for the missing continue, with the IOM coordinating alongside local authorities. So far, rescuers have recovered the bodies of three women and six men. A...