Search Underway for Six People Missing After Barges Collide South of Hong Kong

Rescuers travel in a boat as they search for survivors amidst heavy fog near a sunken barge, south of Hong Kong April 19, 2013. REUTERS/Apple Daily

A search is underway for six people missing after two mainland Chinese barges, carrying construction waste and sand, collided in thick fog near Hong Kong’s Stanley district in the evening of April 18.

The barges collided south of Bluff Head near Lo Chau Island at about 7.50pm.

The impact threw 11 crew members into the sea from one barge, which sank soon after the accident, government radio reported. Five with unknown injuries were rescued by first responders. Divers searched the scene overnight for the missing.

“The rescuers have searched for them overnight but we are still looking for  the six missing,” a spokeswoman from the marine department told AFP.

Reuters contributed to this article.

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