Four believed deceased and 15 saved following collapse of fishing vessel near Falkland Islands

Fourteen individuals stranded at sea near the Falkland Islands have been successfully rescued after a harrowing operation. However, seven are still unaccounted for, with six presumed lost to the ocean's depths.

Overnight, rescue teams continued their search in the turbulent waters of the southern Atlantic following an emergency aboard the fishing vessel Argos Georgia. The ship issued a distress call after facing unexpected flooding on Monday evening.

The Argos Georgia had been 200 nautical miles east of Stanley, the Falkland Islands' capital, when it sank early Tuesday morning. Among its crew were ten Spanish nationals, including the captain, and included personnel from Russia, Uruguay, Indonesia, and Peru, according to local reports.

The vessel had three lifeboats; however, two did not inflate properly as reported by Spanish media. A nearby fishing patrol boat rescued 13 individuals, while another ship recovered two bodies, with a third found alive who later succumbed due to harsh environmental conditions.

Identification of the deceased remains unconfirmed, and survivors are currently in contact with their families aboard rescue vessels. Carmen Crespo, head of the European Parliament's fisheries committee, expressed deep concern for those missing or presumed dead and hoped for a swift resolution to this crisis.

The Argos Georgia embarked on its journey from Port Stanley on Sunday evening but was met with severe weather conditions including wind speeds exceeding 35 knots, seven-meter waves, and freezing temperatures that ultimately led the crew into danger.

Efforts to locate survivors were initially hindered by adverse weather, forcing a helicopter search operation to be halted late Monday night. The Falkland Islands' government acknowledged these challenges but remained committed to reassessing and potentially resuming rescue efforts as conditions improved.

Robert Ervik, the proprietor of fishery company Argos Froyanes, stated that 27 individuals were aboard the vessel when it began experiencing water ingress on Monday night. The ship's length was 177 feet and could accommodate up to 28 people.