2 dead, 8 missing after boats sink in east China

A fishing boat carrying 11 people has sunk near east China's Zhoushan city on Sunday, March 19, 2017. [Photo: weibo.com]

Two sailors have died and eight remain missing Sunday following two separate shipwrecks in east China.

Rescuers are searching for six sailors from a fishing boat that sank in the waters off east China's Zhejiang Province, according to the local maritime authority.

The vessel, with 11 people aboard, sank around 5 a.m. near Shulanghu island, administered by Zhoushan City, according yo a spokesperson for the city's maritime safety administration.

Five people have been rescued, the spokesperson said.

A fishing boat carrying 11 people has sunk near east China's Zhoushan city on Sunday, March 19, 2017. [Photo: weibo.com]

In the waters off Zhangzhou City, east China's Fujian Province, a vessel sank in the early hours after hitting a rock, leaving two sailors dead and two others unaccounted for.

Air rescuers are searching for the two missing people.