Photo taken on Feb. 17, 2006 shows more rescuers were sent to search for the 31 sailors who remained missing after a Panamanian freighter ran on rocks on Feb. 16 off East China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua Photo)

 SHANGHAI, Feb. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- More rescuers were sent to search for the 31 sailors who remained missing after a Panamanian freighter ran on rocks on Feb. 16 off East China's Fujian Province.

    The freighter carried a total crew of 37 when the shipwrech happened, who were all Chinese crew members. By now, two have been saved, remains of four dead were salvaged, and 31 others remained missing, the local salvage source said.

    The East China Sea Salvage Bureau under the Ministry of Communications dispatched a 14-member rescue team, including 10 divers and engineers Sunday to join the rescue operations in the sea area off Dongjia island of Fujian Province.

    The mishap took place at 11:23 a.m. on Feb. 16 when the Panamanian ship struck a reef. All 37 Chinese crew members aboard fell into the water. The ship, Hengda 1, belongs to a shipping company of Pingtan, Fujian Province.

    The East China Sea Salvage Bureau immediately dispatched two ships and helicopters to rescue the sailors.

    Currently, five ships are searching for the missing sailors in sea waters around the accident site in the East China Sea.

    Strong wind and high waves hampered the rescue operation, said the rescuers. Enditem