SHENYANG - Eight people are missing after a sand mining ship capsized Friday afternoon in the Bohai Sea, local authorities told Xinhua Saturday.

The incident happened 5 p.m. Friday when a ship registered in Anhui Province capsized off the coast of Huludao City, Liaoning Province, an official of the city said.

Maritime authorities received the report at 11:30 a.m. Saturday and started to immediately organize the rescue.

As of 2 p.m., eight people were still missing. The four rescued have been hospitalized and were in stable condition, the official said.

An investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.