FUZHOU - A cargo ship with 11 aboard sank in waters off China's southeastern coast early Saturday, leaving at least eight crew members dead.

A spokesman of the maritime rescue center said by noon rescuers had saved one person, recovered eight bodies, and were still searching for the remaining two missing.

The Xinyuanshun 6 cargo ship, registered in Beihai of China's Guangxi, was carrying 5,000 tons of pottery clay to the coastal Shandong province when it sank off the coast of Chongwu in Fujian province at about 3 am, the spokesman said.

The vessel might have capsized after goods slid to one side of its hold, he added.

Eleven boats and two helicopters were involved in the rescue, battling strong winds and rough seas, the spokesman said. The lone crew member rescued had been hospitalized.

Authorities are probing the cause of the sinking and have upped the alert for an oil spill.