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Seven missing in ship collision in east China sea

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-03 17:18

NINGBO -- Seven people are missing after their fishing boat collided with a freighter early Wednesday in the sea off east China's Zhejiang Province, local police said.

A fishing boat, with eight people onboard, collided with a freighter at about 4:40 am, southeast to the Zhujiajian Isle off the coastal Zhoushan City, said Chen Yong, a local police officer.

All the people on the fishing boat fell into water and seven were still missing.

The sole survivor, named Lai Biquan, said the boat capsized in less than 10 minutes after the collision.

"It felt like the boat had knocked on a mountain and then water flooded in," said Lai, who was  saved by another fishing boat nearby.

Local maritime authority has been searching for the missing people. An investigation into the cause has began.