The source said the vessel, the Vincent, was discovered on fire by Russian scientific-research vessel Professor Probatov in Aniva Bay, at the southern end of Sakhalin Island. The crew of the Russian boat subsequently helped evacuate 13 sailors from the burning ship.
The crew of the Vincent, which was carrying about 30 metric tons of diesel fuel, consisted of sailors from Russia's Primorye Territory and the Sakhalin Region. The vessel is owned by a South Korean company.
The evacuated sailors said at least four people had died, and that their bodies remained on board the ship.
"The sailors also said that the ship had been on fire since yesterday, and that the cause of the fire is unknown. There was no distress call from the ship," the source said.
The Russian vessel with the evacuated sailors is currently moving toward Sakhalin's Korsakov port.
