At least nine people died and five were...

The Aegean Wind ship was reportedly heading from Brazil to the U.S. city of Houston with iron ore on board, carrying a crew of 24 seamen. The vessel was about 100 miles north of Venezuela when the fire broke out in the mess hall in the early hours of Friday.

Earlier, the nine dead, including six Filipinos and three Greeks, were reported missing.

The cause of the blaze has not yet been determined.

The vessel reportedly belongs to Piraeus-based Atlantic Bulk Carriers Management Ltd.

MOSCOW, December 26 (RIA Novosti)