Photo shows a barge sinking in the Yangtze River in southwest China's Chongqing City on December 18, 2015. [Photo: weibo.com]

Nine people are missing after a barge sank in the Yangtze River in southwest China's Chongqing City on Friday.

The barge was berthed at Jigongzui in the Fuling reach at around noon on Thursday.

A crew member left the vessel later that afternoon, and returned the next morning to find the barge had disappeared.

The local maritime authority found the ship had sunk in the waters of the dock.

All nine people reported missing are from Fuling District.

The wreck is being salvaged, and an investigation into the cause of the sinking is now underway.