Thirteen fishermen were rescued from a stricken fishing boat after it collided with a cargo ship in heavy fog in the South China sea off Hainan on Tuesday.

The accident happened at 3:15 AM more than 56 kilometers from Haihou, the provincial capital of Hainan and left a fatal crack in the bow of the fishing boat, the Guangzhou-based South China Sea salvation bureau reported.

Water poured into the cabin of the fishing boat and the vessel began to sink. The cargo boat, however, fled the scene under the cover of the fog, which had reduced visibility to around 50 meters.

The salvation bureau received a report of the accident and sent a rescue boat to the site. Rescuers found the terrified fishermen at 6:50 AM and helped them back to port with the fishing boat.

Police are searching for the cargo boat.

(Xinhua News Agency February 6, 2007)