FUZHOU, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- A fishery vessel carrying 14 people sank after colliding with a cargo ship early Friday morning off the coast of east China's Fujian Province, leaving eight missing, maritime authorities said.

As of 10 a.m., six crew members had been rescued after the vessel and the Hong Kong-registered cargo ship collided in sea waters of Pingtan County, said a statement issued by the provincial maritime safety administration.

Helicopters and nearby vessels have been mobilized to search for the missing persons, said the statement.

The cause of the collision is still unknown.