Tragedy at Sea: Rescuers Search for Over 100 Migrants Off Djibouti Coast

More than 100 migrants are missing after smugglers forced them to jump into the sea off the coast of Djibouti. At least 45 bodies have been recovered, making 2024 the deadliest year for sea crossings between East Africa and Yemen. Rescues and ongoing search operations are being conducted.

NAIROBI, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Rescuers are searching for more than 100 migrants off the coast of Djibouti after smugglers forced them to jump into the sea, the U.N. migration agency said on Wednesday.

At least 45 bodies have been recovered from Tuesday's incident, making 2024 the deadliest year on record for sea crossings on the migration route between East Africa and Yemen, the International Organization for Migration reported. Another 154 people have been rescued from the two boats, which left Yemen for Djibouti with a total of 310 passengers.

"Ongoing search and rescue operations are underway by the Djiboutian Coast Guard to locate the missing migrants," the agency said. Survivors recounted that they were forced off the vessels by the boat operators in the open sea near Obock, a port town in Djibouti.

The survivors included a four-month-old infant whose mother drowned, the agency added. Many migrants on the Eastern Route end up trapped in conflict-ridden Yemen, often leading to attempts to return to Djibouti.

(With inputs from agencies.)