HONG KONG (Reuters) - Eighteen Ukrainian sailors are missing after their tug boat sank off the Hong Kong coast following a collision with a cargo ship last night, local media reported on Sunday.
Seven people were rescued, including several that weretaken to hospital, Hong Kong radio said.
The 18 crew members were believed to be trapped inside theengine room and the cabins of the boat, which was lyingcapsized at a depth of 35-metres on the seabed, RTHK radioquoted Wong Chung-shing, a Fire Services divisional commander,as saying.
The commander declined to speculate if the crew membersmight still be alive, but said as long as the ship had airinside, the sailors had a chance.
Divers had knocked on the vessel's hull but had yet to getany response from inside, Wong added.
The ships collided at around 9 p.m. on Saturday, but diverswere only sent to look for the vessel four hours later becausethey could not find the ship at the location given by marinepolice. It was possible the vessel had been swept along bystrong currents while it was sinking, Wong said.
(Reporting by Judy Hua; Editing by Bill Tarrant)
