Dozens of sailors have been declared missing after a Chinese fishing vessel capsized in the Indian Ocean.

Onboard the vessel were 39 people, 17 Chinese crew members, 17 Indonesians and 5 Filipinos.

A search and rescue operation has been launched, according to the new Xinhua News Agency.

President Xi Jinping has ordered that all efforts be made to find survivors of the ill-fated “Lupeng Yuanyu 028”.

The distant-water fishing vessel is owned by Penglai Jinglu Fishery Co Ltd based in Shandong province.