An oil tanker was caught fire offshore Malaysia in the Malacca Straits, nine people were reported missing while 16 rescued, said the sources, who asked not to be identified on Wednesday.

The accident took place around 9:30 pm Tuesday night when the tanker collided with another ship in the Malacca Straits, near Port Dickson in the state of Sembilan.

As of early Wednesday morning, 15 people were rescued on a life boat and another was rescued on the sea.

The 16 rescued included some Chinese seamen, the sources said.

The rescued have already been sent into a hospital in Port Dickson.

Local media said that the tanker collided with a bulk carrier about 20 nautical miles off Port Dickson in the Strait Melaka and both ships caught fire. The flames could be seen in nearby town.

The tanker was reportedly registered in Liberia and the bulk carrier from Britain and each had a crew of 25, Port Dickson Police chief Supt mazlan Othman told the media.

He said the Fire and Rescue Department was notified the fire at 9:15 pm and it is believed a major oil spill had occurred.

It is learnt that the bulk carrier was coming into Port Dickson for repairs. The fire on the bulk carrier was put off by its crews and no one was injured.

(Xinhua News Agency August 19, 2009)