Oslo - Four people believed to have been German tourists were feared dead Wednesday when their rented fishing boat overturned off the Norwegian west coast, north of Trondheim, officials said.

The four, who were wearing life jackets, were picked up lifeless from the sea by a rescue helicopter and a boat, Stein Solberg of the Rescue Coordination Centre in Stavanger said.

The Rescue Centre was alerted at 1 pm (1100GMT). The cause of the accident was not known but there was a strong breeze, Solberg added.

Duty police officer Jan Birger Jacobsen said police were to interview the owner of the boat rental centre and other people in the area. (dpa)