A fourth crew member from the fishing boat is still missing.

The boat went down in the early hours of Wednesday 11 nautical miles (24 kilometres) offshore, said Pedro Coelho Dias, a spokesman for the coastguard.

Two bodies had been found at 8.30am, along with wreckage from the vessel.

According to Coelho Dias, the searches continue, with two rescue boats – from Aveiro and Figueira da Foz – a navy corvette and an air force helicopter. In all, around 70 people are involved in the search.

Three of the fisherman are from Ribamar, in the municipality of Lourinhã, and another from Maceira, in neighbouring Torres Vedras.