Nine people are confirmed dead and two are missing after a Panamanian-registered cargo ship sunk off South Korea's southeast port of Pohang. According to the Chinese Consulate General in Busan, eight people have been rescued and 9 bodies have been found.

A Panamanian-registered cargo ship is seen in surging waves near Pohang harbor, South Korea, Oct. 15, 2013.(Xinhua)

The cargo ship, with a crew of 19, sank in a storm Tuesday morning. Eighteen of the people on board were Chinese nationals and one was Vietnamese. The South Korean coastguard has sent helicopters, submarines and special rescue teams to search for the missing.

The Chinese Consulate General in Busan has also sent staff to assist with rescue work. The Panamanian registered ship is owned by China’s Lishen international shipping group, based in Zhejiang province.