A rescue operation is underway in Hong Kong waters, as eighteen Ukrainian sailors are trapped underwater after their tugboat sank off following a collision with a cargo ship.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has urged the government to take all measures to rescue the missing sailors.

Director of Marine Department, Roger Tupper says the sailors may still be alive.

"Much of the effort now of course is to try and get inside that wreck. We have to get the vessel to shallower water to enable the divers to have a better environment to operate in, and also to try, because the vessel is upside down on the seabed, to try and move the vessel so as we can get some access into the vessel."

The Ukrainian tugboat Neftegaz, which was on its way to an oil field south of Hong Kong, collided with Chinese-registered cargo ship Yao Hai late on Saturday in waters northwest of Hong Kong's outlying Lantau island.

Seven members have been reportedly rescued and efforts were continuing to find the other missing Ukrainian citizens. All of the crew members aboard the Chinese cargo ship have been rescued.

According to the marine official, the cause of the accident is not yet known and that weather conditions are reasonable at the time it occurred.

* 如果因您不良评论或重复评论导致评论被删，您将会被扣掉一定数额的金币。
* 您必须遵守《全国人大常委会关于维护互联网安全的决定》及中华人民共和国其他有关法律法规。
* 承担一切因您的行为而直接或间接导致的民事或刑事法律责任。
* 您发表的文章仅代表个人观点，与大耳朵网站无关。
* 大耳朵评论管理人员有权保留或删除其管辖评论中的任意内容。
* 您在大耳朵网评论系统发表的作品，大耳朵网有权在网站内转载或引用。
* 参与本评论即表明您已经阅读并接受上述条款。