At least 49 people are dead and 140 are missing after a boat carrying migrants capsizes off the coast of Yemen, says UN agency

At least 49 migrants were killed and 140 others missing after a boat capsized off the coast of Yemen, a UN agency said on Tuesday.

The International Organization for Migration said in a statement that a ship carrying 260 migrants capsized on Monday near Alghareef Point in Shabwah province. IOM reported that the dead included 31 women and six children.

The boat left Somalia on Sunday and was carrying 115 Somali nationals and 145 Ethiopians bound for Yemen.

Yemen is located across the Gulf of Aden from the African coastal state of Somalia.

IOM stated that it had dispatched two medical teams to provide immediate assistance to survivors. The organization said 63 people needed first aid and minor treatment, while eight required further medical attention and were referred to hospital.

Despite the challenges of a shortage of operational patrol boats, search and rescue operations continue for 140 missing people.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Migrant boat capsizes off Yemen; at least 49 people dead – UN agency