MOSCOW, JULY 24 :  Three of the eight Russians who were on board the Norwegian ship Argos Georgia, which sank off the Falkland Islands, were dead, one is listed as missing, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik.

“Update on the the fishing vessel in South America: according to the Falklands Coast Guard and the shipowner, there were eight Russians on board, four of them were alive, three were dead, and one was listed as missing,” Zakharova said.

Broadcaster NRK previously reported, citing the Main Rescue Control Center (HRS), that Norwegian fishing vessel Argos Georgia had sunk on Monday near the Falkland Islands.

According to the broadcaster, the sunken ship belonged to Norwegian company Ervik Havfiske and sailed under the flag of St. Helena.

Among the 27 people on board the ship were ten Spaniards, eight Russians, two Uruguayans, two Peruvians and five Indonesians, EFE previously reported.

Ervik Havfiske CEO Stig Ervik told RIA Novosti that of the 27 crew members of the Argos Georgia, 14 people had been rescued and taken to the Falkland Islands.

The bodies of nine people were found, four crew members are listed as missing and rescuers are searching for them, he added.(UNI)