At least six killed in explosion on Chinese ferry

At least six people have died and a further 21 are missing after a ferry carrying trucks full of liquified natural gas exploded off China’s north-eastern coast yesterday.

Rescuers pulled five survivors from the Tonghui ferry before it sank in the Bohai strait. The Tonghui was carrying passengers and nine trucks, six of them loaded with natural gas.

It was en route from Lushun, in Liaoning province, to the port of Longkou, in Shandong.

Three navy ships, two helicopters and a special rescue ship have been dispatched to search for survivors.

The cause of the accident is still being investigated.