SEOUL, Nov 10 – South Korea's coast guard began a search on Monday after hearing that nine crew members were missing when a Chinese fishing boat capsized off the country's western coast, according to an official.

It is believed that there were eleven crew members on the boat when it sank about 150 kilometers (93 miles) from South Korea's west coast, said a coast guard official from the city of Gunsan.

For the search and rescue operation, four coast guard ships and three aircraft, including a rescue helicopter, have been sent to the area.

Reports indicate that two of the eleven crew members have been rescued by a nearby ship.