Santiago de Compostela, Spain - At least three fishermen drowned Friday after a Portuguese fishing vessel began sinking off north-western Spain, rescuers said.

Three bodies were retrieved from the sea, while five people remained missing.

Five of the total of 13 Portuguese and Indonesian crew were rescued alive.

Helicopters, vessels and an aircraft were searching for more victims or survivors.

The reason why MS Rosamar shipwrecked was not immediately known. (dpa)