11 dead, 5 missing in boat tragedy (3)

But their boat had sunk beneath the water and the fishermen cannot be found in muddy seawater," he said.

The rescue was made easier in the afternoon when the tide was low.

"Nothing like this has ever happened in our village," said Sun, who knew some of the people aboard the boat personally.

Sun said that hiring non-local fishing workers is common practice in the village because of a labor shortage.

Gale winds as strong as force 8 on the Beaufort scale swept the coastal waters near Dalian city early on Wednesday, China News Service reported.

The search and rescue operation involved a helicopter, seven maritime patrol ships and 120 other boats.

An investigation into the cause of the accident is under way.

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