Three sailors go missing after cargo ship collision

Three sailors went missing early Thursday after two ships collided near the mouth of the Yangtze River, according to the local maritime authority.

A ship loaded with cargo containers collided with another cargo ship around 2:30 am near the Shanghai Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone in Pudong New Area, according to a press release from the Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration.

One of the vessels sank, forcing its seven-member crew to abandon ship, according to the press release.

The maritime bureau dispatched two vessels to the scene and rescued four of the sailors. The bureau also asked passing ships to help with the rescue.

The bureau was still searching for the other three sailors Thursday afternoon, said Ge Rongrong, an official with the Pudong New Area Maritime Safety Administration. The cause of the collision remained under investigation Thursday.