139 dead including children in boat disaster off Djibouti

A passenger boat sank off the coast of Djibouti on Thursday evening, resulting in the deaths of at least 139 people, according to United Nations sources. The vessel was en route from Djibouti to Yemen when it capsized in waters near Obock, a major port town in the Horn of Africa nation.

The boat had been carrying approximately 305 people at the time of the incident. Among those confirmed dead are children, underscoring the human toll of the maritime disaster. Rescue and recovery operations were initiated following the capsizing.

The exact circumstances that led to the vessel's sinking remain under investigation. Maritime accidents in the Red Sea and adjacent waters have claimed numerous lives in recent years, often involving overcrowded vessels transporting migrants and refugees across the region.

Djibouti, located at the strategic entrance to the Red Sea, serves as a transit point for people traveling between the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The disaster highlights ongoing safety concerns regarding maritime transport in waters frequently used by those fleeing conflict and seeking economic opportunity.