A Preah Sihanouk police official yesterday said three of the four fishermen missing since a storm hit the coast on Monday had been found dead, with the fourth man’s whereabouts still unknown.

A powerful rainstorm on Monday resulted in seven fishing boats overturning off the coast of Preah Sihanouk and Koh Kong provinces.

Seven men were missing at sea, all from Preah Sihanouk province’s Stung Hav district. Three of them were found the same day after they swam to safety.

Ros Key, Stung Hav police chief, said after searching for two days officials and local fishermen had located one of the missing men, Eng Tong, 18, on Tuesday night around a kilometre from where his boat sank on Monday.

“The victim’s body was handed over to the victim’s family for the traditional funeral,” he said.

Local Sihanoukville fisherman Seng Phorn, meanwhile, said Tep Ra and Sam Bo were also found dead on Koh Preah Island off the coast of Koh Kong province.

“Now we are finding the last one, called Kuon, but we do not think that he is still alive since he does not swim,” he said, referring to 40-year-old Chey Koun.