One person has been killed and seven are missing after six fishing boats capsized in stormy seas off south China's Hainan Island early on Monday.

The province's Yangpu marine rescue center said it received reports that four boats had capsized at 2 a.m. west of the island. They received distress calls from two more boats at 3:40 p.m. in the same sea area.

Nine people have been rescued. More than 50 vessels and a helicopter are searching for the missing.

Source: XINHUA