SHENYANG -- Nine people were evacuated to safety by a helicopter after three ferries carrying nine passengers were stranded for more than 28 hours on the Songhuajiang River in northeast China's Jilin Province, local authorities said Monday.

The rescued, aged from 35 to 54, were immediately taken to a local hospital and are in stable condition, the authorities said.

The local government asked the Shenyang Military Area Command to dispatch the helicopter on Sunday after the vessels ran aground near the cities of Jiutai and Dehui.

Strong winds made it difficult to pull the rescue off, said An Zhanhua, a local military official.

The Songhuajiang River is the largest tributary of the HeilongJiang River, known in Russia as the Amur River.