All-out search and rescue operations are underway after a Chinese fishing vessel with 39 people aboard capsized in the central part of the Indian Ocean.

The boat, Lupeng Yuanyu 028, capsized early Tuesday morning, and all 39 crew members – 17 Chinese, 17 Indonesians and five Filipinos – are missing.

The Chinese Ministry of Transport activated the emergency response mechanism immediately after receiving the message and has coordinated and organized search and rescue operations in the area.

The ministry has contacted nearby ships and asked them to help with the rescue. Rescuer vessels in Australia, the Maldives and Sri Lanka were also invited to participate in the rescue.

The China Meteorological Administration was also asked to calculate the possible whereabouts of the missing crew.

As of noon on Wednesday (Beijing Time), no missing persons or lifeboats had been found, Xinhua reported.