Four Chinese people were reported missing and feared dead after a double-decker tour boat sank on Friday night in southern Vietnam, Chinese consul-general in Vietnam's southern Ho Chi Minh City Xu Mingliang told Xinhua Saturday.

Xu said among the four missing Chinese, two are from Sichuan Province and two from Hunan Province.

Local media said fifteen people, including five children, six women and four foreign tourists were dead in the accident which happened at 7:00 p.m. on Friday night in Binh Duong province when a family was having a birthday party while cruising the Saigon River.

The report said there were 26 people on the boat. Authorities suspect that strong winds and heavy rain may have caused the boat to capsize.

Hundreds of soldiers and police have been mobilized for a search and rescue operation.