After enduring hours lost in turbulent waters, seven men were rescued yesterday after being flung from their fishing boat as it overturned in an early morning storm off Sihanoukville, officials said.

According to Seng Phuk, provincial deputy military police chief, the men were fishing near the island of Koh Rong when a storm hit at about 4:20am and overturned their boat.

It was nearly six hours before navy forces were able to locate and pull the first five men from the ocean near Manor Island, said Seng Phuk, adding that no one was injured.

However, it was not until 2pm, after nearly 10 hours spent stranded at sea, that the last two fishermen were rescued, Chin Sarin, Sihanoukville governor, confirmed.

“Because of the strong wind and big waves, it was difficult for [the rescue team] to take them out of the water,” he said.

“They were sent to their home safely, and their boat was not so damaged,” he said.

Chin Sarin explained that authorities often warn fishermen not to set out for sea when it is raining, but they often ignore these restrictions, which have been put in place by the Water Resources and Meteorology Department.

“Some fishermen want to go fishing [during storms], because they know that they can catch more rare kinds of fish during the rain,” he said.