HANGZHOU, April 13 (Xinhua) -- A fishing boat with 16 crew members aboard has gone missing off the coast of east China's Zhejiang Province, local authorities said Monday.

The boat, Zhepuyu 68628, lost contact in the sea waters about 70 nautical miles east of the Dongfushan Island while returning to port on Sunday, the Zhoushan municipal ocean and fisheries bureau said.

Eight rescue ships and more than 10 fishing boats in nearby sea waters have joined in the rescue and search operation that is aided by helicopter. Two crew members have been found dead by Monday noon, it said.

The boat, 42.2 meters long and eight meters wide, has a tonnage of 248 tonnes.