Venezuelan authorities have confirmed that nine people that had earlier been reported as missing have been killed after a fire broke out on a Greek-flagged ship, Press TV reported.
"The commander of the ship is confirming to us that the nine people missing were killed," said Carlos Aniasi, commander general of the Venezuelan Navy, on state television.
Aniasi said the bodies of the dead sailors were found by their crewmates "in various sections" of the Aegan Wind, a Greek cargo ship.
It is not known whether the sailors and officers jumped overboard or got trapped in their cabins.
Two others have also been injured in the incident.
Venezuelan authorities have sent a hydroplane, two patrol boats and a helicopter to help locate the missing crew members and save the vessel.
According to the Greek, 24 Greek and Filipino nationals were on board when the fire broke out and rapidly spread through the ship. The cargo ship was en route from Brazil to Houston, Texas in the US.