The giant wave crashed down on the machinery which the fishermen were using to collect seaweed in Changsha town on Sunday morning, the China News Service said, citing a Jiangsu television station.

Local authorities sent four boats to search for the missing while fishermen who heard of the accident sent another 40 boats to help look for victims.

By Monday, 12 of the fishermen had been rescued, the report said.

Rescue workers are still searching for the six missing men.

TERRA.WIRE