KARACHI, July 25: At least seven fishermen are feared to have drowned while 10 are still missing when their fishing launch capsized off the Karachi coast, near Cape Monz, early Tuesday morning.

An official of the Maritime Security Agency said that the tragic incident took place early Tuesday morning, adding upon receiving information the rescue operation was started which led to the recovery of seven bodies while a hectic search for the 10 missing fishermen is continuing with the help of a helicopter, a defender aircraft and a small ship called ‘MSS Barkat’.

Haji Ali Mohammad, Vice-Chairman of the Fishermen Cooperative Society, said the fishing launch ‘Al-Tahir’ had gone out to sea on late Monday night from the Karachi Fish Harbour, adding the launch met with the accident near Cape Monz when its engine developed a technical fault and the launch was soon filled with water as a result of which it capsized.

He said that the drowned fishermen’s families would be compensated accordingly.

PPI quoting an official of the Maritime Security Agency said that seven fishermen had been rescued while 10 were still missing after their fishing launch overturned at the Chhota Talhar point, five nautical miles from the Paradise Point coast.

APP ADDS: Edhi sources said that their volunteers were also carrying out hectic efforts to retrieve the missing fishermen.