12 missing in China as fishing boat loses contact

Twelve people aboard a fishing boat went missing early this morning in the East China Sea, local authorities said.

The boat named Zhedaiyu, from Daishan County of coastal Zhoushan City in Zhejiang Province, lost contact early morning yesterday, according to the municipal maritime and fisheries bureau.

Rescue boats and helicopters are searching at the site.

Stormy waves have hindered the rescue, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.