Local port authorities said 223 passengers and crew members from the passenger ship were rescued after the ship sank.

The cargo ship was undamaged, authorities said.

The captains of both ships are currently being questioned and authorities have not released the cause of the crash yet.

"After careful examination, we have found that two people are still missing from the passenger ship," said Sun Hongze, a supervisor in Hubei Province's Badong port, where the disaster took place.

The collision occurred at 11:02 pm near Badong port, which is part of the Three Gorges scenic zone and is located 80 kilometers from the Three Gorges Dam.

Local police are currently totalling the exact number of passengers on the ship that left Wanzhou, a city in the upper reaches of the Yangtze on Monday afternoon. The ship, which can hold 300 people, was heading for Yichang, another major port in the middle reaches of the river.

A policeman, who refused to be identified, said the total number of causalities has not been confirmed.

"We are now asking all ports between Wanzhou and Badong to tell us if they sold any tickets for this ship," he said.

About 150 policemen and port supervisors were called to the rescue effort, which last about two hours.

"The rescue went smoothly because the accident happened near the port and then we could easily reach it," the unnamed officer said.

Authorities are now working as fast as they can to find out just how many passengers are still missing.

They are also working to bring the rescued passengers to their planned destinations, the officer said.

(China Daily October 23, 2002)