As many as eight people have been reported missing from a fishing boat after it sank due to a collision with a Panamanian containership SITC DANANG off the coast of South China’s Hainan province.

The accident occurred at around 00:15 AM on Wednesday, April 3rd. The 1032 TEU fishing boat by the name of “Yuenan Aoyu 36062” collided with the containership “SITC DANANG,” 22 nautical miles southwest of Yinggehai town in Ledong.

The container vessel had departed China’s Qinzhou port and was en route to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam when the accident occurred.

As of 5:30 PM, a search and rescue operation coordinated by the Chinese Navy and Coast Guard is still underway. 21 ships and five aircraft are combing through the area, and three divers have also joined the search, but none of the eight missing people have yet to be found.

The cause of the accident is unknown, and a formal investigation has been opened into the matter. Meanwhile, the SITC DANANG has been anchored in Sanya, Hainan.