Two fishermen have been confirmed dead and seven are still missing in an ongoing rescue operation in Asturias following the mysterious sinking of Portuguese fishing boat Santa Ana.
The boat, registered in Leixões, and crewed by two Portuguese, five Spaniards and two Indonesians, ran into difficulties near the little island of Ebrosa, near Cabo Peñas, in the early hours of Monday morning. By lunchtime, the reasons for the disaster were still unknown.
Air and sea rescue operations were ongoing as the remains of the boat bobbed on the water’s surface.
The identities of the two dead men recovered from the water by rescue boat Salvamar Ringel had not been divulged by Monday late morning, but the bodies were on their way to Oviedo for identification.
Meantime, one Spanish crewmember had been plucked from the water alive and airlifted to shore for medical attention.
It is thought that four of the missing men are from Galicia, but details are still coming through.
The Santa Ana was working for a Spanish company, Pescas Balayo.
The Portuguese crewmembers are believed to have come from Matosinhos and Leça.
