HARBIN - One villager died and four others have been reported missing after two boats foundered on a river in Northeast Heilongjiang province on Friday, local authorities said Saturday.

Seven people, all relatives and residents of Xinhe village in the city of Nehe, in two vessels were transporting goats across the Nenjiang River when the accidents happened around 9 am, said an official from the city government.

After a leak was found on the paddle boat three of the villagers were using, they transferred to a motorboat carrying four passengers and over 20 goats. The motorboat later sank, sending all seven passengers and the goats overboard, the official said.

Two villagers were rescued after the accident, and rescuers are still searching for the missing.