Moscow, Russia: At least 54 sailors have died and 15 others are still missing after a trawler with 132 people on board sank Wednesday night in the Sea of Okhotsk in Russia's Far East, Russian media said.

‘We have recovered the bodies of 54 victims. Sixty-three crew members have been rescued alive,’ Russian news agency Tass reported, saying that 15 sailors were still missing.

The Dalniy Vostok sank off the coast of Kamchatka, 250 kilometres (155 miles) south of Magadan, the main town in the sparsely populated region in Russia's Far East.

An officer from the local maritime rescue coordination centre told TASS that 78 Russians were on board the vessel and at least 40 people from Myanmar, as well as other nationals from Ukraine, Lithuania and Vanuatu.

The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations did not respond when contacted by AFP.