39 sailors missing as Chinese vessel capsizes in Indian ocean

Thirty-nine sailors have been declared missing after a Chinese fishing vessel capsized in the Indian Ocean, the official Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday.

The fishing vessel, Lupeng Yuanyu, 28, capsised in the central Indian Ocean on Tuesday, Xinhua reported.

The crew consisted of 17 Chinese nationals, 17 Indonesians and five Filipinos.

A search and rescue operation was launched.

No further details were initially given.

dpa/NAN