Four people were rescued and another twelve are missing after a fishing boat sank off the coast of Tangshan in north China's Hebei Province.

A local maritime search and rescue center said the boat sank at about 2am in the Bohai Sea. There were 16 people on board. The cause of the accident is being investigated, and rescue work is under way.

Local authorities have mobilized about 80 rescue ships and 6 helicopters to search the area of more than 600 square kilometres, but strong sea winds are adding extra difficulties to the rescue operation.

"Today, we are expanding the maritime search and rescue. Here is where the boat capsized. Inside here is the scope of our maritime search with rescue ships reaching as far as 528 square kilometres. Outside this area, up to 686 square kilometres will be searched by helicopter," said Wang Xiaolei, Maritime Search and Rescue Center of Tangshan

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