Seoul, March 20 (IANS) Two sailors were killed and one injured when a fire broke out on an oil tanker on Wednesday morning off the southern coast of South Korea, according to media reports.

The 494-tonne oil tanker caught fire at about 5.38 a.m. local time in waters some 5 km off Odong islet in South Jeolla province, reported Xinhua news agency.

Two sailors were found dead inside the pilothouse, while the chief engineer who suffered burns was sent to hospital.

Three others, including the captain, were rescued.

No leakage of oil was reported from the ship carrying around 10,000 tonne of bunker fuel C oil and heavy oil.

The cause of the fire was not known immediately.

--IANS pg/bg