One Taiwan sailor was rescued but five others remained missing after their boat sunk off the coast of south China's Guangdong Province on Monday, the local maritime authority said on Tuesday.

The Taiwan-registered cargo ship, en route from Hong Kong to Taiwan carrying more than 100 tons of sea food, sunk at about 7 pm Monday amid strong wind and high waves when it sailed to the sea area of Shantou in Guangdong.

All the six sailors jumped into the sea with life vests and a raft. One of them struggled to swim to the sea shore of Shantou and was rescued by maritime staff about three hours later.

Rescuers have retrieved the life raft as of Tuesday and are searching for the five missing sailors.

Editor: Yan