2 dead, 6 missing in vessel collision in Hong Kong

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong Director of Marine Tuesday ordered an investigation into the collision of a sand barge and a container vessel early Tuesday morning, which left two barge crew dead and six missing.

The city's Assistant Director of Marine Chung Siu-man Tuesday said Marine Police received a report at 3.15 am that a sand barge with 14 crew members and a container vessel with nine crew collided east of Tung Lung Chau.

The barge capsized and sank off the southern tip of the island. Seven male barge crew were sent to Eastern Hospital. One was certified dead, one is in stable condition and the other five have been treated and discharged.

Rescuers later found a barge crew member in west of Tung Lung Chau. He was declared dead on arrival at hospital. The container vessel crew are safe and the boat is in Chai Wan Public Cargo Working Area.

Chung said the barge and the container vessel are registered on the Chinese mainland and all crew members are mainlanders.

He said the search-and-rescue operation for the six missing crew, five men and a woman, will continue despite unfavorable weather.

Hong Kong Government Flying Service helicopters, Marine Department launches, 10 Police launches, and five fireboats joined the rescue operation.