NANJING - Four people, including two children, have been confirmed dead while five others remained missing five days after a cargo ship sank at a port in east China's Jiangsu province, local maritime authorities said Monday.

The accident, involving a cargo ship docked at the port of Zhenjiang, happened at 2:25 am last Wednesday, according to the Zhenjiang Municipal Marine Safety Bureau

All 24 people on board were flung into the water, and 17 of them were rescued, the bureau said, adding that two children among the 17 died after medical treatment failed.

Of the seven missing, two bodies were retrieved Sunday and Monday and were identified as wives of crew members.

The rescue operation is continuing.

The bureau said the ship was carrying more than 10,000 tonnes of iron ore and reported no collision. The cause of the accident is being investigated.