12 sailors missing after cargo ships collide in Pearl River estuary

Twelve sailors have gone missing after two cargo ships collided in the Pearl River estuary on Monday, Chinese state media reported.

Rescuers were still searching for 12 crew members from a Jiangsu cargo ship which sank at about 3am, state broadcaster China National Radio reported.

The ship, which was carrying 5,000 tonnes of sand, hit a Fujian vessel that was transporting 5,038 tonnes of steel via the river’s Lingding Channel, the report said.

The Fujian vessel was damaged in the collision but made it back to port, with all of its 11 sailors safely ashore.