Capsized Chinese fishing vessel sinks in Indian Ocean

Two crew members from China COSCO Shipping Corp carry out search and rescue operations on May 17 after a Chinese deep-sea fishing vessel capsized in the central Indian Ocean Tuesday. (PHOTO / AFP)

BEIJING — The Chinese fishing vessel that capsized in the Indian Ocean last week has sunk, China's Ministry of Transport said on Wednesday.

The vessel sank at 2:12 am Wednesday, at 5 degrees 47.939 minutes south latitude and 77 degrees 46.315 minutes east longitude, according to the ministry.

The water where the vessel sank is approximately 5,000 meters deep, the ministry said.

READ MORE: Capsized Chinese fishing vessel drifts over 100 nautical miles

As of 11:00 am, seven bodies have been retrieved in a search and rescue operation.

The ministry said on the previous day that no survivors had been found.

The wrecked ship, Lupeng Yuanyu 028, had 39 crew members on board: 17 Chinese sailors, 17 Indonesians, and five mariners from the Philippines. The incident occurred at approximately 3 am on May 16.