SEOUL, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Three people have been confirmed dead with two still missing in a South Korean incident that a fishing boat capsized in waters off the country's southern coast, according to local media reports on Friday.

The 9.77-ton vessel, carrying 14 people, overturned in waters about 80 km south of Yokji Island in Tongyeong city, South Gyeongsang province at about 5 a.m. local time (2000 GMT Thursday).

The 14 people included a captain, a sailor and 12 anglers. The captain and two others were found unconscious and moved by chopper to a hospital where the three died.

Nine others were rescued in a relatively stable condition and the two remains unaccounted for.

The South Korean coast guard dispatched 14 patrol ships and four aircraft for the rescue operation. Four vessels from the navy also helped the operation.

The rescued people were quoted as saying the fishing boat may have collided with another vessel.