ADEN – Yemeni coastal forces rescued 69 Somali refugees when their boat overturned Tuesday near Bir Ali Coast in Shabwa.

The operation manager for the coastal forces, Shuja'a Mahdi, said the boat capsized because the refugees were using a small fishing boat to travel from Somalia.

Mahdi said there were 73 people on board; 69 were rescued because their boat was ill-equipped and lacked safety procedures.

Mahdi also said coastal forces always save Somalis from drowning because they overload the boats, resulting in catastrophes.  

A statement released Tuesday by the Interior Ministry said the increasing waves and the collision of the boat with a rock resulted in the capsizing. Four people drowned and were buried with the knowledge of the U.N. Refugee Agency. Those who survived were transferred to a refugee camp, according to the statement.

The statement said refugees were moved to the refugee camp in Jawl Al-Raida in Maifa'a district; later, they will later be shifted to the main refugee camp in Kharz in Lahj governorate