WUHAN, June 24 -- Huge waves triggered by a massive landslide caused fishing and transport boats to capsize on Wednesday evening in a river in Chongqing Municipality, southwest China.

The landslide occurred at 6:40 p.m. on the northern bank of the Daning River, a tributary of the Yangtze River, in Wushan County. Strong waves caused a number of fishing and farming vessels anchored on the southern bank to capsize and broke the anchorage cables of other ships, said an official with the Yangtze River Navigational Affairs Administration.

The number of casualties is unknown. Six maritime patrol vessels and a number of salvage ships have been despatched to aid rescue efforts, according to the administration, which is based in Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province.

Maritime authorities have imposed temporary traffic control measures on waters around the area.