CHANGSHA -- The death toll has climbed to eight and four others remained missing after two ships collided Friday afternoon on the Yuanjiang river in central China's Hunan Province, local government said.

Around 4 pm Friday, 22 people, including two owners of both ships, ?fell into the Yuanjiang river in Yuanjiang city after the two ships collided with each other, according to the press office of the city.

As of 10 pm, rescuers salvaged 18 people, and eight of them have been confirmed dead. The other ten have been sent to hospital and are out of danger.

Searching efforts for the missing people are going on. The cause of the accident is under investigation.