Three Chinese sailors died and nine others were missing after their ship collided with a South Korean vessel and sank in the Yellow Sea early Monday morning, according to the Chinese Embassy in Seoul.

 

The 2,972-ton Chinese ship, which was carrying fuel materials, collided with the 3,980-ton South Korean freight ship 20 nautical miles southwest of Incheon, South Korea's second largest port city, at about 4:05 AM Monday (1905hrs GMT Sunday).

 

All 17 crew onboard the Chinese ship, owned by Xinbei International Shipping (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd., were thrown into the water by the collision. Five have been rescued. Three were found dead and nine are still missing as at press time.

 

The five survivors are Wang Xiaojian, Wang Bo, Wang Haijun, Li Hao and Xia Hailin, according to a crew list obtained by the Chinese Embassy in Seoul.

 

The rescued were sent to a hospital in Incheon immediately.

 

The Incheon Coast Guard and South Korean navy sent 18 military vessels, rescue boats and one helicopter to the scene to conduct search and rescue operations. 11 South Korean civilian vessels were also mobilized.

 

 

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2006)