Six people have died and 10 others remain missing after two overloaded boats capsized and sank on Wednesday morning in a river in Heihe, a city in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, a local official said.

Local police received a report at 5:48 AM Wednesday that two fishing boats with 33 people onboard had capsized in the Aihui District section of the Heilongjiang River, a river that divides China and Russia.

More than 500 rescuers, including local officials and policemen, rushed to the scene after receiving the report.

Survivors said the boats were destined for a small island, in Chinese waters, for farming work.

Police said the two boats each could only carry 10 people at the most. Further, they had not received landing approval from local police.

China's military and foreign affairs departments have notified their Russian counterparts of the accident and have asked for help in the search for those still missing. 

(Xinhua News Agency, China.org.cn June 23, 2005)