Eight people are missing after a sand dredger crashed into a fishing boat and caused it to capsize in northeast China's Bohai Sea on Monday, local authorities said.

Nine crew members on board the fishing boat fell into the water after the collision happened at 5 a.m. near Suizhong County, and only one has been rescued, according to the government of Huludao City, which administers Suizhong.

The sand dredger that caused the collision later fled the scene.

The government said 14 boats and one helicopter have joined the search for the missing.