The sinking of a cargo ship off east China's Zhejiang Province has left one person dead and six missing, rescuers said on Wednesday.

The sand-loaded vessel with nine people aboard sank at the Liuhengfodu channel in Zhoushan after it was hit by an unidentified ship around 12 p.m. on Tuesday in foggy weather, according to Hu Nianfu, one of the two rescued sailors.

Rescuers found one body at the scene.

The ship was en route from Zhoushan to Ningbo, also in Zhejiang.

Hu said he was sleeping in the cabin when a "bang" sound awoke him. He then heard the captain shouting "Be quick! The vessel is hit. Hurry to wear your life vests".

Hu and another sailor, Li Shixiang, were plunged into the sea when the teetering vessel was overturned by big waves.

The two were rescued by a fishing boat around 6 a.m. on Wednesday.

Five vessels from the maritime and government authorities were currently searching for the missing.

(Xinhua News Agency, March 13, 2008)