Hong Kong ferry passenger search after Lamma collision

[Gerald]

Around a dozen people were still missing four hours after Monday night's crash.

At least eight people have died after a ferry collided with another boat off Hong Kong, hospital officials have told the BBC.

A rescue operation is continuing for passengers still missing five hours after a boat half-sank following Monday night's collision near Lamma island.

One of the vessels was carrying 124 passengers.

Search teams had rescued more than 100 people from the water, local media reported.

More than 20 injured people had been taken to a hospital on Lamma island, a police spokesman was quoted as saying.

Lamma lies some three kilometres (two miles) south-west of Hong Kong island, and is popular with tourists and expatriates.

The crash happened around 2030 (1230 GMT) on Monday.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19790977

Note: 1 October 2012 Last updated at 17:27 GMT