A Russian cargo ship sank today in the Sea of Japan off South Korea's northeastern coast and the fate of its 18-strong crew was unknown, Russian news agencies and television quoted officials as saying.
The Sinegorye, carrying timber from Russia's Far East to China, sent an SOS earlier in the day. The captain said some of the cargo had broken loose in a storm and damaged the ship's hull, agencies quoted Transport Ministry officials as saying.
The captain said the listing ship was drifting towards South Korea, after which all communication was lost. NTV, quoting a rescue service chief in Russia's Far Eastern port of Vladivostok, said the crew had not been in contact for 11 hours.
Agencies quoted Transport Ministry officials as saying about 20 rescue vessels were on their way to the area.
NTV cited preliminary information saying the ship was some 80 miles (128 km) off the Korean peninsula when the disaster happened. It said waves up to 7 metres (23 feet) high and nearly zero visibility hampered the search and rescue operation.
"It is late night here already, and the active phase of the operation will start tomorrow at dawn," NTV said.