UN ends search for survivors after ship sinks near Lebanon

The U.N. has called off the search for any other survivors from a ship that sank off the coast of Lebanon.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Rescuers found 40 of 83 people who were on the ship
At least 11 others died and 32 are missing
Lebanese military said the cargo ship carried sheep, other livestock

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Beirut, Lebanon (CNN) -- A United Nations task force suspended its search Monday for victims of a ship that sank off the coast of Lebanon.

Rescuers found 40 of 83 people who were on the ship, said Andrea Tenenti, a spokesman for the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon. At least 11 others died and 32 are missing.

"There is always hope of finding other survivors, but it's not that likely," Tenenti said.

The livestock-carrier Danny F II was sailing under a Panamanian flag when it sank about 10 nautical miles from Tripoli, Lebanon, on Thursday, according to a statement from the Maritime Task Force of the U.N. entity.

The Lebanese military has said the cargo ship carried sheep and other livestock.

An Italian frigate and two German vessels, a mine hunter and supply ship, searched for survivors in the waters off northern Lebanon, the Maritime Task Force said. The U.N. naval force found 35 of the 40 survivors, Tenenti said.

One crew member was discovered alive in a lifeboat off the coast of Syria on Sunday, but hope was fading Monday that rescuers would find more survivors -- though Lebanese naval forces continued to look.

"You never know," Tenenti said.