WENZHOU - Five people went missing after two ships collided Thursday in East China's Zhejiang province, the local maritime department said.

A fishing ship sank after it collided with a commercial ship at noon in waters near the city of Wenzhou. Five people aboard the fishing ship fell off the boat and remain missing, according to the Wenzhou Maritime Safety Administration.

The accident happened in unfavorable weather conditions, with high winds and visibility of less than 100 meters, it said.

A search for the missing is under way.

The cause of the accident is being investigated.