HANGZHOU - Seven people are missing after a boat transporting sand crashed into a construction platform on an east China river and sank Friday, authorities in coastal Zhejiang province said.

The accident happened at 2:15 am in Haining, a city 200 kilometers east of Shanghai.

When the accident occurred. the boat was sailing against the high tide of the Qianjiang River, which was swollen after days of heavy rain.

The boat hit a construction platform where a bridge to connect Jiading and Shaoxing cities is being built.

All nine people on board the boat fell into the water. Two were saved and rushed to the People's Hospital in Haining. Rescuers are still searching for the others.