At least 17 migrants drowned off Yemeni shores

Most of the migrants were Ethiopian and Somalian. Search and rescue operations are underway, looking for any survivors.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press.

Tens of thousands of migrants make the treacherous journey between the Horn of African and Yemen every year, refugee organizations say.

The United Nations has documented more than 200 deaths at sea in 2014- which it says exceeds the combined totals from 2011, 2012 and 2013.