1 Chinese dead, 18 missing as ship sinks off ROK

The cargo ship CHENGLU15 is seen amid a storm in Yingri Harbor of Pohang in South Korea on Tuesday. [Photo/Xinhua]

SEOUL - A Panamanian-flagged cargo ship carrying 19 people sank in South Korea's southeast port city of Pohang amid a storm at 21:30 local time on Tuesday, leaving one person dead and 18 missing, according to the Chinese Consulate General in Busan.

An official from the Chinese Consulate General confirmed that 19 crew members were aboard the ship, including 18 Chinese and one Vietnamese. The dead one was confirmed to be the Chinese captain.

A report from South Korea's coast guard said the ship CHENGLU15 set off from Pyeongtaek port of South Korea's west coast on October 2 and arrived at Pohang two days later for unloading the cargo. The ship ran in distress with its anchor problem at around 15:40 local time on Tuesday and sank after six hours in Yingri Harbor of Pohang.

The ship registered in Panama belongs to China's Lishen International Shipping Group Corporation in Zhejiang province.

South Korea's coast guard has send helicopters, submarines and special rescue team to search the missing people. But strong wind and high waves hampered the rescue efforts.

The Chinese Consulate General has also sent a team of four staff to assist the rescue work and called for the South Korean side to make all-out efforts to rescue the crew.