Many feared dead after Spanish fishing boat sinks off Canada

Several people are feared dead after a Spanish fishing boat sank off the Atlantic coast of Canada.

The bodies of ten people have been recovered from the icy waters, a military official confirmed on Tuesday.

Eleven of the 24 crew members were still missing, Spanish newspaper La Voz de Galicia reported citing authorities.

So far, only three crew members have been rescued alive, as Leiutanant Commander Brian Owens of the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Halifax reported on Tuesday, voicing his hope that others could still be found alive. 

Three crew members were rescued alive from a life raft on Tuesday. The three survivors were suffering from severe hypothermia, Spanish government spokesperson Isabel Rodríguez told journalists in Madrid, warning that many were feared dead.

The boat sank overnight Monday off the coast of Newfoundland.

Lieutanant Commander Owens described the weather off the island of Newfoundland as "challenging," with low visibility and waves reaching up to four metres in height.

Rescue operation

Given the extremely cold water and stormy seas in the area there was little chance of finding more survivors.

According to Canadian authorities, 24 people were on board the Villa de Pitanxo, a vessel from Galicia in north-western Spain, at the time of the accident.

According to Spanish media reports, several ships and helicopters belonging to the Canadian coastguard, as well as several Spanish and Portuguese fishing boats, among others, are involved in the rescue operation.

The reasons for the boat sinking remain unclear.