The security information center quoted coastguards in Aden province as saying a number of those who were aboard the ship swam to the coast of al-Makha but many are still missing.

Rescue operations have started in search for survivors, coastguards said.

Many of Somali displaced people drown while crossing into Yemen through sea either as boats capsize or as they are sometimes forced by human smugglers to swim to Yemen’s coasts.

During the first half of January 2009, almost 1130 Somali refugees including 260 women and 24 children fled to Yemen. They arrived in the coasts of Shabwa, Hadramout and Taiz.

Security forces in the coastal area of Thubab in the province of al-Makha said they have seized 32 Ethiopians, half of whom were women, along with 9 Somali immigrants.

One of the immigrants died.

Furthermore, six Ethiopians were held at the Nasrin area in the northern province of Saada while they were trying to illegally enter Saudi territories. They are being investigated.

Many Somali arrive in Yemen, almost daily, fleeing deteriorating conditions in their country.

Last figures suggest the number of Somali refugees who have arrived in Yemen since 1991 has reached 800.000.

Somalia has been without a central government since 1991 when the then president was deposed. The country has been in civil conflict with millions of Somali people immigrating to various countries.

Instability in Somalia is one of the main reasons for piracy which has become a growing concern for many countries.