TWELVE bodies of suspected victims have been found as of 3:30 p.m. yesterday after a floating crane sank in waters off the coast of South China’s Guangdong Province, according to the provincial maritime search and rescue center.

The bodies were recovered in an area about 50 nautical miles southwest of the site where the floating crane sank, and relevant departments are stepping up the identification work, said the center.

On Saturday, the floating crane of an offshore wind-farm project was found via a monitoring system to be in danger after its mooring chain broke while it was taking shelter from Typhoon Chaba in waters near the city of Yangjiang.

The crane later sank, with 27 people falling into the water and going missing. One person was rescued yesterday morning. The survivor is in stable condition, the center said.

A total of seven planes, 246 vessels and 498 fishing boats have been mobilized to carry out searches for the remaining missing people, targeting areas including beaches and nearshore and offshore areas. (Xinhua)