China: 20 Missing after Tug Sinks

More than 20 people are missing after a tug boat sank in the Yangtze River in China's eastern Jiangsu Province on Thursday, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Friday quoting local authorities.

Seven or eight foreigners working on the boat, including citizens of Singapore and Japan, were among the missing, it said. A French citizen may also be among the missing.

Sembcorp Marine Ltd, a Singapore-based shipbuilder, said the tug boat that its subsidiary, Jurong Marine Services Pte Ltd, had planned to charter sank during a sea trial. Three of the company's employees were on board.

Sembcorp Marine is part of Sembcorp Industries Ltd , an industrial conglomerate with Singapore's state investor Temasek Holdings being the biggest shareholder.

The accident happened on Thursday afternoon, Xinhua said. Three people had been rescued and a search and rescue mission is underway.