Two cargo ships from China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) collided in the East China Sea near Jieyang in south China's Guangdong Province early on Thursday, but all 11 Chinese crew members were rescued with no reports of casualties.

 

Sources with the Jieyang Frontier Guard said it received a distress call at 5:33 AM. A Chinese ship, the Haikou Jianhuashan II, had been hit by another ship, the Samho Family, registered in the ROK.

 

The frontier guard immediately organized a rescue operation. They found the capsized Chinese ship and the 11 crew members who were drifting on a life boat at about 6:50 AM.

 

All survivors are in stable condition, sources said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 24, 2006)