GUANGZHOU - Ten people went missing after a boat loaded with sand sank in waters near the Hailing Island, South China's Guangdong province, on Tuesday, according to the provincial maritime search and rescue center on Wednesday.

Rescue forces rushed to the scene immediately after the accident, searching for people on the boat.

Preliminary investigation shows that there were 16 people on the sand carrier, six of whom had been rescued as of noon Wednesday, while 10 others are still missing.

Rescue work and investigation on the cause of the accident are underway.