Search and rescue operation underway to find 9 missing people in China's Rizhao city

Nine people went missing after a caisson used to balance the weight of a ship toppled and sank into a sea in China's Rizhao city, local officials said on Thursday.

The caisson overturned Wednesday afternoon while the ship was undocking at a local steel company's raw material terminal.

Eleven workers aboard fell into the water and two were rescued, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The local authorities sent ships and divers to help with the search and rescue operation, which is still underway.

(With inputs from agencies.)