13 people have died have died and two others are missing after a South Korean fishing boat capsized after colliding with a tanker.

It happened in the Yellow Sea, near Yeongheung Island in the west of the country.

Yonhap news agency reported that 20 passengers and two crew members were on board the chartered fishing boat Seonchang-1 when the collision occurred.

A strong current and low temperatures are believed to have contributed to the high death toll.

Associated Press reports that the fishing boat's captain was one of the two people missing after the crash.

19 coast guard and naval vessels and five aircraft were taking part in the search & rescue operation.

Speaking to reporters, a Coast Guard official said there didn't appear to have been any problems related to weather or sailing condition.

In comments quoted by Yonhap, he explained: "We are investigating how the accident happened, considering the possibility that the two ships collided with each other while passing through a narrow waterway under Yeongheung Bridge."