At least 4 missing after fishing boat explosion in south China

At least four fishermen went missing after a fire-triggered explosion on a fishing vessel off the coast of southern China's island province Hainan on Monday.

The explosion occurred around 6:00 a.m. Monday on a 30-tonne fishing vessel, which was sailing six nautical miles off the coast of Wenchang in northeastern Hainan.

One fishermen was trapped inside the engine cabin, and at least four others fell into the sea and have yet to be found.

Maritime police have dispatched boats to rescue the trapped fishermen and search for the missing.

The cause of the fire and explosion is not yet unclear.