A cargo ship sank late Thursday night after it hit a reef near Dongjia Island, east China.

By Friday morning, only one sailor had been rescued. According to him, 37 people were onboard the ship at the time of the accident.?

Rescue operations continue but rescuers are not optimistic about finding any other survivors.?

Sources with the Fujian Maritime Safety Administration said the accident took place at about 11:00 PM. Thursday.

The Panama-registered refrigeration ship, "HENGA 1", was reportedly fully loaded with aquatic products and was headed for Indonesia. Rescuers said that strong winds caused the ship to run into the reef.

(Xinhua News Agency February 17, 2006)