NANJING, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Eight passengers were missing after a yacht collided with a cargo ship in a section of the Yangtse River in the eastern Jiangsu Province on Tuesday, the local maritime authority said.

    In total, there were 24 people on board the "Yuejiang" yacht, of which 16 were rescued after the two ships collided in Jurong City at 11:35 a.m.. No casualties were reported on the "Jiangxiazhan" cargo ship from Shanghai, a Jiangsu Provincial Maritime Bureau official said.

    A total of 20 maritime ships were on the spot to make the rescue. The cause of the accident is under investigation.