A Syrian cargo ship has caught fire off Yemeni western coast but the fate of its crew is still unclear, the Interior Ministry said on Tuesday.

All parts of a giant ship, a two-storey one, carrying livestock were seen burning for hours early today, according to eyewitnesses.

A team from the coastguard and maritime authority headed to the ship site to investigate the accident and evaluate damage the accident caused to environment, the ministry said.

The ship being in its current location is dangerous to navigation, it said, adding that preparations got underway for towing it to another place.