Explosion on Cargo Boat Kills Six in East China Sea

At least six of the 32 people aboard a cargo ship traveling in stormy waters off the coast of east China have been confirmed dead, after an explosion at 6:15 Sunday morning.

Rescuers have saved 11 people who fell into the sea. They are still searching for the other missing people.

The roll-on-roll-off ship, Tong Hui, was carrying six liquefied petroleum gas tanker trucks and three trailers en route from Lushun, a port in northeast China's Liaoning Province, to Longkou, in Shandong Province.

Rescuers said that the ship was hit by a strong storm some seven sea miles off the Daqin Island near Longkou, which might have caused the gas explosion.

The rescue coordination team, lead by provincial officials of Shandong, has asked navy and air troops to send helicopters and ships to help search for the victims.






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