(Photo: Xinhua)

At least seven people are missing after a fishing boat sunk in the sea off the coast of east China's Zhejiang Province at around 8:00 p.m. on December 21, according to media reports.

The fishing boat sunk about 200 nautical miles east of Ningbo city.

Eleven people have been rescued and the other seven people onboard were still missing as of 4 p.m. Sunday, according to local authorities.

Che Jun, governor of east China's Zhejiang Province, has issued instructions on rescue operation. 

An investigation into the incident is underway.