Ten Chinese sailors were missing after their vessel flying Panamanian flag sank off the coast of China's southern province of Guangdong Saturday, local authorities said.

The cargo ship MV Hong Wei, loaded with 40,000 tonnes of nickel ores, went down in the waters about 240 sea miles south of Shantou City of Guangdong, near the Bashi Channel, at 1:43 p.m., bringing all the 24 crew members in the water, according to the South China Sea rescue bureau under the Ministry of Transport.

Fourteen sailors had been rescued by a Chinese ship and a Taiwan jet by 4 p.m., but 10 crew members were still missing.

A giant Chinese rescue ship is searching the water area for the missing sailors despite strong gale.

Causes of the sinking are being investigated.