RONGCHENG, Shandong Province, Jan. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Seventy-eightpeople were saved and two are still missing after a Chinese fishing boat caught fire early Thursday on the Yellow Sea off the eastern Shandong Province.

    The local maritime authorities declared an end to the rescue operation late Thursday, saying 78 out of the 80 people aboard the fishing boat had been saved, but two others remained missing.

    The boat from northeast China's Liaoning Province was found in flames at about 2:00 a.m., about 30 nautical miles off Chengshantou in Rongcheng City, according to the Shandong Provincial Maritime Safety Administration.

    The maritime management departments immediately called on vessels to help with rescue operations and the fire was brought under control in three hours. Enditem