At least 45 migrants died and 111 others went missing off the coast of Djibouti, in the Horn of Africa, after being forced off two boats by smugglers, the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Wednesday.
"At least 45 people have tragically died and 111 still missing after they were forced off their vessel in open sea by smugglers," the statement read.
The boats carrying 310 people in total were returning to Djibouti from Yemen when Yemeni smugglers forced the passengers to disembark and swim in the open sea, off the coast of the city of Obock. The Djiboutian Coast Guard rescued 55 people. The search for survivors continues.