Six sailors were reported missing after two ships collided in waters of northeast China's Liaoning Province on Saturday, local maritime authorities said.

The two vessels, used for carrying sand, collided and capsized at about 8 a.m. off the coast of the Huludao City.? A total of 22 sailors fell into the Bohai Sea, said a spokesman with the Liaoning Maritime Affairs Bureau.

So far, the Liaoning Provincial Maritime Search and Rescuer Center has rescued 16 sailors, the spokesman said.

Rescuers and divers are still searching for the six missing people, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 30, 2007)