12 missing in China after ship capsized

HULUDAO, China, May 15 (UPI) -- Chinese authorities said 12 people are missing following the sinking of their boat in waters off the coast of Suizhong County in northeast China.

Fish farmers in the county said the boat, a sand carrier identified as Haida No. 8, bore a registration mark indicating it was from Wuhan, capital of China's Hubei Province, Xinhua, China's official government-run news agency, reported Friday.

The farmers said there were 11 men and one woman on board when the boat was last seen Thursday.

"There were high waves last night. The boat was carrying 5,000 tonnes of sand. It might have struggled to reach anchor, before it capsized at about 9 p.m. Thursday," said a farmer who declined to be identified.

The local maritime rescue department has dispatched eight vessels to search for the missing crew about 3 nautical miles south of Erhekou Port.