Czech tourist dies in Norway boat accident, three others missing

One Czech citizen has died and three others remain missing after a fishing boat accident off the western coast of Norway, the Czech Foreign Ministry confirmed Sunday.

All four people aboard the vessel were Czech citizens. Norwegian police no longer expect to find the three missing people alive, according to the ministry.

"One body has so far been found during the search operation, while the search for the other three missing persons continues," the ministry told ČTK. "Unfortunately, local police currently do not expect that anyone missing survived the accident."

The four tourists had rented a fishing boat Friday morning near the island of Averøya, close to the western Norwegian city of Kristiansund, according to Norwegian media. They had planned to return before dark but failed to do so, prompting a search operation.

Rescuers located the missing boat Saturday, but none of its crew members were aboard.

Norway's Joint Rescue Coordination Centre is coordinating the search, which has involved a rescue helicopter and vessels in the area.

Search efforts were suspended Saturday evening because of poor weather and darkness. One body was subsequently recovered, while the other three Czech citizens remain missing.

Norwegian media initially described the four people only as tourists from Eastern Europe. The Czech Foreign Ministry later confirmed that all four were Czech nationals.