Four fatalities have been confirmed, three crew have been rescued and 15 are missing as Spanish trawler Villa de Pitanxo sank approximately 250 nautical miles east of Newfoundland earlier today.
A Spanish government spokesperson has confirmed that search and rescue operations are continuing.
Operated by fishing company Grupo Nores, the 50-metre Villa de Pitanxo was on NAFO fishing grounds in heavy weather, and an emergency beacon was activated early this morning.
A Canadian SAR helicopter has been at the scene already, and an SAR vessel is on the way. Another Spanish fishing vessel in the vicinity was first at the scene, recovering three survivors and four bodies from one of Villa de Pitanxo’s four liferafts.
Two liferafts are reported to have been found empty and the fourth has not been located.
The crew is reported to include Spanish, Peruvian and Ghanaian nationals.
The MRCC Madrid is co-ordinating the response in co-operation with the Halifax RCC. Spanish and Portuguese fishing vessels are also in the vicinity of Villa de Pitanxo’s last reported position and are continuing the search.
Image: Grupo Nores
