At least nine people dead, dozens missing as boat sinks off Djibouti coast

"At least nine people have died, and 45 others are missing, after a boat carrying more than 300 migrants and refugees sank off the coast of Djibouti, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has said."

"The Djiboutian coastguard said on Thursday that it launched an emergency overnight operation after the vessel, a traditional galba-type boat packed with 320 people, went down near Guehere in the north of the country late on Tuesday."

"This tragic shipwreck may sadly mark the first of many incidents this year, said Tanja Pacifico, IOM's chief of mission in Djibouti."

"The boat was attempting one of the world's most perilous migration crossings along the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, where Djibouti and Yemen are separated by as little as 20 kilometres (12 miles) of open water at their narrowest point."

A boat carrying more than 300 migrants sank off the coast of Djibouti, leading to at least nine confirmed deaths and 45 individuals missing. The Djiboutian coastguard launched an emergency operation, rescuing 266 survivors, all Ethiopian nationals, who are now receiving support at a Migrant Response Centre. The incident highlights the dangers of migration during the hot season, which brings rough seas. A judicial investigation into the sinking has been initiated, as many migrants attempt perilous crossings in search of better opportunities in the Gulf states.

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