32 crew members, including 30 Iranians and two Bengalese, have gone missing after two vessels collided off China's east coast on Saturday evening, China's Ministry of Transport said Sunday.

One Panama registered oil tanker and a Hong Kong cargo ship collided at around 8:00 p.m. on Saturday. The oil tanker caught on fire after the collision and 32 crew members on aboard remain unaccounted for.

A total of 21 crew members on the cargo ship were rescued, the statement said.

A search and rescue operation is underway.