22 Feared Dead After Fishing Boat Sinks Off Antarctica

Twenty-two fishermen are feared to have died after their South Korean boat sank in the Antarctic Ocean.

New Zealand maritime officials said a nearby boat was able to save 20 of the 42 crew members who had been on board the South Korean boat named "Number One Insung."

Officials said, however, that five crew members died immediately when the boat went down some 2,250 kilometers south of New Zealand, and officials later said there was little hope that 17 missing crew members could survive for more than about 10 minutes in the water without proper protection.

It was not immediately clear what caused the ship to sink, and reports said the boat had not made a distress call.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry said there were eight South Koreans, eight Chinese, 11 Indonesians, 11 Vietnamese, three Filipinos, and one Russian on board the ship.

compiled from agency reports