Rescuers are searching for 15 fishermen who went missing after the KM Setia Makmur 06 sank in huge waves and poor weather on the Arafura Sea on Saturday, according to Darmawan Widi, a government spokesperson in the Merauke district of Indonesia's Papua province.

The search-and-rescue operation began as soon as information about the incident was received, and several other fishing boats were asked to help.

"Ten people have been rescued safely, but 15 others remain missing," he told Xinhua.