Authorities are trying to establish if any New Zealanders were on board a ferry that sank off Hong Kong, killing at least 36 people.
The New Zealand Consulate General in Hong Kong is "following up with local authorities" as to whether any Kiwis were involved in the collision between two boats, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokeswoman said tonight.
More than 120 passengers and crew were on the Hong Kong Electric company's vessel to watch the National Day fireworks in Victoria Harbour on Monday evening when the collision occurred near Lamma Island, AFP reported.
Scores of people were thrown into the choppy water and the company vessel sank within minutes.
"Twenty-eight were certified dead at the scene while eight others were certified dead upon arrival [at] hospital," AFP reported the government saying in a statement.
"Over 100 people were sent to five hospitals during the incident, nine of them have sustained serious injuries or are in critical condition.
"Rescue action will continue as Fire Service Department cannot rule out that there are still people inside the vessel or missing."