7 dead, 2 missing after ship sinks off China coast

Seven people were confirmed dead and another two remained missing after a ship sank off the coast of the east Shandong Province on Friday afternoon, local maritime rescue authorities said on Saturday.

The accident happened around 5:55 p.m. Friday, when a ship from the north Hebei Province rocked by gale and sank near the port of the city of Rizhao.

As of 11 a.m. Saturday, seven victims were found, and the rescue team are still searching for the missing ones.

The wind speed was up to 50 meters per second on the water when the accident happened, authorities said.