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6 dead, 1 missing after boat capsizes off S China coast

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-04 21:30

NANNING - Six crew members were found dead and one remained missing Friday, a day after a fishing boat capsized off south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region Thursday night, according to local maritime authorities.

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The Beihai Sea Search and Rescue Center received a call for help at around 10:40 pm Thursday from a fishing boat, which was sinking after being hit by an unidentified ship, said Li Xiangfu, head of the command center of the Beihai Maritime Affairs Bureau.

The center immediately ordered a nearby ship and two rescue vessels and later sent a helicopter for the rescue operation, Li said.

But the fishing boat with seven aboard was sunk before the nearby ship arrived at the scene at midnight, Li said.

The rescuers recovered six bodies floating on the sea waters Friday morning and were continuing search for the remaining missing fisherman.