Two Bangladeshis among 32 missing as vessels collide off China coast

Thirty-two crew members, including two Bangladeshis and 30 Iranians, have gone missing after two vessels collided off China's east coast on Saturday evening, China's Ministry of Transport said Sunday.

The collision, between a Panama-registered oil tanker and a Hong Kong-registered bulk freighter, occurred at around 8 pm Saturday in waters about 160 sea miles east of the Yangtze River's estuary, the ministry said.

The 32 missing crew members were all from the oil tanker. All the 21 crew members on the bulk freighter -- all Chinese nationals -- have been rescued, reports Xinhua news agency citing the ministry.

Chinese maritime authorities have dispatched eight vessels for search and rescue.

After the coordination of China Maritime Search and Rescue Center, the Republic of Korea has dispatched a coast guard ship and a fixed-wing aircraft to assist in the search and rescue.