A Chinese fishing trawler collapsed in the Indian Ocean, leaving dozens of men missing.
There were 39 passengers on board, including 17 Chinese crew members, 17 Indonesians, and 5 Filipinos.
According to the new Xinhua News Agency, a search and rescue effort has been initiated.
President Xi Jinping has ordered that all efforts be made to locate survivors of the ill-fated “Lupeng Yuanyu 028”.
The distant-water fishing vessel is owned by Penglai Jinglu Fishery Co Ltd based in Shandong province.
China’s maritime search and rescue centre has informed countries near the ocean of the accident.
The Foreign Ministry has also directed its missions in Australia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Indonesia, the Philippines and others to coordinate operations.