SANYA - Six people have been confirmed missing on Sunday afternoon after their cargo vessel got lost in the South China Sea in Typhoon Haiyan, said local maritime authorities.

At 3:22 pm, the typhoon cut the mooring rope of the vessel, which was anchored in Sanya Port, said the Sanya Maritime Bureau.

Local government authorities have sent a rescue team to conduct search work, which is of great difficulty in the strong gale and downpours.

Haiyan, the 30th and strongest typhoon to hit China this year, was forecast to land at or sideswipe Ledong County in south China's Hainan Province on Sunday afternoon, after having wreaked severe havoc in the Philippines.