The United Nations International Organization for Migration announced on Wednesday that the death toll from a migrant boat sinking off the coast of Yemen about two weeks ago had risen to 56, while 129 were still missing.

The organization said in a report issued by it, seen by Anatolia, that “on June 10, a boat carrying 260 migrants capsized off the coast of Yemen near the Shabwa Governorate in southern Yemen, resulting in the confirmed death of 56 people, and the loss of another 129 people.” ".

According to the organization’s report, survivors of the incident revealed in their testimonies that “the smugglers asked all the passengers to jump into the sea because of the strong winds that were causing the crowded boat to fill with water, which would have led to it capsizing.”

The survivors reported, according to the report: “Many of them were young, between 15 and 25 years old, and during the event some were trying to save their companions from the water, and others were crying for their companions who had died by drowning.”

They added: “The scene was chaotic and horrific, and people were screaming on the beach and in the water, fighting for their lives for nearly four hours.”

On June 10, the International Organization for Migration announced the sinking of a migrant boat off the coast of Yemen, resulting in the death of 49, while 140 are still missing.