Thirty-four of the 64 fishermen, who were trapped on Thursday morning off the coast near northeast China's port city of Dalian, have been rescued, according to the local government.

Rescue operations for the remaining fishermen continue 300 meters off the Dawangjia Island in the Yellow Sea in northeastern Liaoning Province, according to the provincial marine rescue center.

The gales, moving at about 60 kilometers per hour, built up waves about five meters high, which hampered the rescue work, said Ren Anning, an official with the air rescue squadron under the Ministry of Transport quartered at Dalian.

"There is also a kelp farm nearby and so it is hard for the rescue vessels to get close," said Ren. "We have received reports that some of the trapped boats capsized."

The fishermen, on more than 20 vessels, were trapped by strong gales and stormy waves at around 11:20 a.m..

The air rescue squadron sent two helicopters to help. Large fishing ships and rescue boats from the city's marine affairs center also joined in the rescue.

(Xinhua News Agency November 20, 2008)