FUZHOU, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- One person was confirmed dead and 11 others were missing after a freighter collided with a fishing boat Saturday in waters off Putian City in east China's Fujian Province, local officials said.

    Two people were rescued, said a spokesman with the Fujian Provincial Maritime Affairs Administration.

Two sailors (Front) rescued from a vessel collision accident walk to a hospital for medical checkup in Putian, southeast China's Fujian Province, Jan. 10, 2010. One of the three persons who were rescued died and 11 others were missing when a freighter collided with a fishing boat on Jan. 9 in waters off Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun) Photo Gallery>>>

    The collision happened at 12:35 p.m. off Putian's Nanri Island, causing the fishing boat coded Minshiyu 3785 to sink, said the spokesman. "All the 14 crew members aboard the boat fell into the water."

    The Putian Maritime Search and Rescue Center received the report and launched rescue efforts at around 2:58 p.m., the spokesman said.

Two sailors rescued from a vessel collision accident lie on beds for medical checkup at a hospital in Putian, southeast China's Fujian Province, Jan. 10, 2010. One of the three persons who were rescued died and 11 others were missing when a freighter collided with a fishing boat on Jan. 9 in waters off Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun) Photo Gallery>>>

    Eight rescue vessels and 135 professionals would be dispatched to search for the 11 missing Sunday, he said.

    The cause of the accident is under investigation.