A boat with four people of China Administration of Fishing lost contact with the local fishing department in the South China Sea near southern island province of Hainan on Monday afternoon.

The 7.2-meter-long and 2.4-meter-wide boat numbered as 46071 set off on 10 a.m. Monday on regular duty to Beibu Bay, some 60 miles northwest of Basuo Port, but lost communication at 5 p.m.

One mobile phone is the only means of communication on the boat.

The provincial maritime search center is organizing rescue action. The center has asked passing boats to join the efforts.

A ship from a shipping company in Nanjing, capital city of eastern province of Jiangsu, was reported near the area and the company has agreed to offer help.

A rescue ship of nearby Guangdong Province will also sail to the site.

Maritime police and the navy have also joined the rescue.

But sources with the center said the rescue work is tough due to nightfall.

(Xinhua News Agency March 25, 2003)