The crew included 12 Spaniards, as well as 10 Ghanaian and Peruvian sailors, according to local media reports.

“Three crew members have been rescued from the Spanish trawler that capsized off Canada's east coast”, said Isabel Rodríguez, Spain's government spokeswoman

“Search operations are ongoing to locate other members of the 22-strong crew of the sunken vessel,” she added.

A Canadian helicopter and rescue vessel were rushed to the area, which is about 450 kilometers off the island of Newfoundland, in eastern Canada. (ILKHA)