Seven people have been confirmed dead and another one remains missing after a boat capsized in a lake in east China's Shandong Province Friday night, local authorities said Sunday.

The accident happened at about 8:30 p.m. in Weishan Lake, Weishan County, when a private boat capsized on the way to Weishan Island, the largest island in the lake, a provincial work safety department official said.

Eight passengers escaped. Rescuers are still searching for the missing.

Temperature has dropped drastically and heavy wind has been whipping the lake in the past two days.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

(Xinhua News Agency January 25, 2009)