18 missing as cargo ship sinks off S. Korea

One person was dead and 18 others were missing after a Panamanian-flagged cargo ship sank amid a storm in South Korea's southeast port city of Pohang Tuesday, an official said.

Nineteen crew members were aboard CHENGLU15, including 18 Chinese and one Vietnamese. The dead person has been confirmed to be the Chinese captain, Xinhua reported citing an official from the Chinese Consulate General's office in Busan.

A report from South Korea's coast guard said the ship set off from Pyeongtaek port of South Korea's west coast Oct 2 and arrived at Pohang two days later for unloading the cargo. The ship ran in distress with its anchor problem and sank after six hours in Yingri Harbour 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 a rescue team to search for the missing people. But strong wind and high waves have been hampering the rescue efforts.

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