GENEVA, Switzerland, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Seventeen people are confirmed dead, 140 missing after the smugglers' boats taking them from Somalia across the Gulf of Aden capsized off the Yemen coast.
The incident, involving four boats smuggling 515 people, occurred late Wednesday as the vessels were spotted approaching the coastline by Yemeni authorities, reports the U.N. High Commission for Refugees.
Survivors said the boats had set sail from Shimbarale in Somalia, carrying mainly Somalis and Ethiopians. Two of the smugglers' boats had reportedly offloaded their passengers and were then fired on by Yemeni security forces.
According to Yemeni officials, the smugglers returned fire. The third and fourth boats -- which had been waiting further offshore in the dark -- tried to escape back to sea. One capsized near Al-Baida after it became unbalanced by agitated passengers. Authorities said several people were trapped under the boat. The other vessel, pursued by two Yemeni coastguard boats and a helicopter, was forced to head back to shore. But 300 meters from the beach, it capsized in the heavy seas.
Yemeni authorities said Thursday they captured all 17 smugglers and their four boats, and that a search operation was still underway for survivors.
U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres said he was shocked by the loss of life.
More than 25,800 people have been recorded arriving in Yemen from Somalia this year. At least 330 people have died making the dangerous journey. Nearly 300 are missing, including 141 from Wednesday's incident, according to UNHCR records.
