Fishing vessel sinks off Mizen Head following fire

Eleven crew members escaped the vessel which got into difficulty this morning.

Valentia Coastguard responded in a coordinated rescue, despatching Rescue 115 to the scene.

A fishing vessel which lost power and caught fire this morning has sunk of the West Cork coast.

Eleven crew members who escaped the UK-registered Piedras fishing vessel this morning are on board another vessel on route to Castletownbere.

The alarm was raised shortly after 11am this morning when the 35m-long fishing vessel was reported to be in difficulty approximately 60 miles southwest of Mizen Head.

It was reported that the vessel was taking on water and had lost propulsion.

Valentia Coastguard responded in a coordinated rescue, despatching Rescue 115 to the scene which was also attended by Air Corps Casa.

As of 11.45am, the crew members had abandoned the vessel, which had caught fire, and boarded another fishing vessel.

R116 was on standby in Cork Airport, while the Naval ship LÉ Samuel Beckett also attended the scene.

It's currently understood there were no injuries sustained in the incident.