A ship carrying iron ore from Indonesia to Dalian port in northeastern China sank midway on Friday due to still unknown causes with up to 10 of its crewmen still missing.

Taiwanese officials said that coast guard rescuers from China, Taiwan and the Philippines battled rough seas and fierce wind on Sunday to search for the crewmen. At least 14 others have been rescued.

Filipino coast guard chief Mr Wilfredo Tamayo said that the 27,996 tonne MV Hong Wei sent a distress call that was picked up by the Japanese coast guard before sinking on Friday in the high seas between Taiwan and the northern Philippines.

He said that a passing Chinese cargo ship plucked 12 sailors from the rough sea while a Taiwanese coast guard helicopter rescued two others.

Taiwan's coast guard on Saturday reported that 16 crewmen have been rescued and eight others remain missing. There was no immediate explanation for the discrepancy in the reports of the two coast guards.

Rescue teams aboard ships and planes from China, Taiwan and the Philippines were jointly searching for the missing crewmen of the Panamanian registered ship, Tamayo said.

He said that their efforts were hampered by monsoon wind and big waves.

(Sourced from Associated Press)