3 missing after sand boat sinks off east China coast

Three people remained missing two days after a sand-laden boat sank during a rainstorm late Thursday in the sea off Ningde of east China's Fujian province.

Rescuers are still searching for the missing who were among six crew members on board the boat when the accident happened, border police in Ningde said.

Police said the freight carrier registered in Ningde was loaded with about 300 cubic meters of sand. It was anchored near Baima Port Thursday night, when the sea area was hit by a rainstorm.

All the six people jumped into the sea as the vessel started to sink at about 11:30 p.m. Thursday. Three of them were rescued by a passing vessel.