Migrant boat disaster off Djibouti kills at least 139, with 84 still missing

At least 139 people died when a migrant boat carrying over 300 people capsized off Djibouti's coast, the International Organization for Migration said Sunday.

• IOM raised the death toll to 139 after 30 additional bodies were recovered, with 84 people still missing.
• The vessel carried 305 people from Djibouti toward Yemen when it sank near Jihiri, north of Obock, on the night of Oct 8–9.
• IOM Director-General Amy Pope said safe and legal migration pathways save lives and urged governments and donors to act before the next boat sinks.
• IOM Chief of Mission Alexandre Coissac said the boat sank shortly after boarding because it was overcrowded.
• The recovered bodies include 52 men, 42 women, and 15 children, according to IOM.
• More than 80 people survived the disaster, and IOM teams are assisting survivors and their families.