Panama-registered freighter catches fire off east China coast

QINGDAO - Fifteen of the 16 crewmen on a Panama-registered freighter that caught fire off east China coast have been rescued, according to local marine authorities late Sunday.

One person was still stranded on the freighter "HUA SHAN," said officials with the maritime safety administration of Shandong Province.

The crewmen are all from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. None of the 15 rescued was injured.

At 7:57 p.m. on Sunday, the Shandong maritime rescue center received a report that the engine room of the freighter was on fire in waters about 18 sea miles off Chaolian Island, which is about 31 kilometers from Qingdao city.

The center made contact with the owner of the freighter carrying 4,000 tonnes of coal after receiving the report.

Fifteen sailors boarded the lifeboat and were rescued by a passing ship, Qingdao maritime rescue center reported at 9:43 p.m..

Several vessels, including a tug boat, were rushing to the freighter.