A huge cargo ship has vanished in the South Atlantic while carrying 22 people on board.

The South Korean vessel has sparked a search operation after disappearing in unknown circumstances.

The Stellar Daisy was sailing from Brazil to China when it sent out a distress signal on Friday.

A message received by the ship operator said it was taking in water on the port side and listing rapidly.

Two people were found in a life raft and rescued but other lifeboats and rafts found in the area were empty.

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported the two people picked up in the sea were Filipino crew members.

A South Korean foreign ministry official said a search operation was underway for the 22 people.

Of those missing eight are South Korean nationals and 14 are Filipinos.

Brazil and Uruguay have been asked to help in the search and rescue efforts.

The huge ship was said to be carrying iron ore and is owned and operated by South Korea’s Polaris Shipping, based in Busan.

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