Two fishermen were missing after jumping into the sea from a burning boat in east China Wednesday afternoon.

The 10-meter-long wooden boat caught fire at about 4 p.m. near the Changxing island at the mouth of the Yangtze River, maritime officials said.

The fire was put out by patrolling maritime vessels and rescuers began a search for the men. The cause of the fire remains unclear.

(Xinhua News Agency May 28, 2009)