Beijing, June 19: A passenger ship and a cargo vessel collided today in heavy fog on China's Yangtze river, leaving at least 90 people missing, state press and local officials said. The accident happened at 8 am (0530 IST) near Peilinglun city, 270 kilometres from Yichang, the location of the three Gorges dam, the China news service said. The agency said the passenger ship "Peazhou", carrying at least 100 people, sank and that 10 passengers had so far been rescued. Two local hospitals told a news agency that 10 injured had so far been admitted.


"We have received nine people from the accident so far," said Dr Zhang Yi from the Lingshi Hospital.


"They are all in a stable condition. I heard around 13 people have been rescued."

The central hospital of Fuling city said it had so far seen one injured person.

"She told me she swam to the shore," said a doctor who declined to be named.

"At the time of the collision there was heavy fog. Both boats were violating regulations because according to regulations boats cannot leave port in heavy fog," an official surnamed Cui from the Changjiang Chongqing Navigational Channel Bureau told a news agency. Bureau Report