FUZHOU -- Rescuers have recovered the body of a crew member from a sunken Chinese cargo ship off the coast of southeastern Fujian Province, bringing the death toll to two with three others still missing, said a local maritime affairs official on Monday.

The slate-loaded vessel, "Quanfeng 369" owned by Fengze Shipping Company Ltd. in Quanzhou, Fujian, sank on Sunday morning off Jinjiang, Quanzhou, after it collided with another ship, the "Xing'an", registered in eastern Jiangsu Province, according to Zhou Honghui, of the Quanzhou municipal maritime affairs bureau.

Seven of the 12 sailors on the "Quanfeng 369" were rescued.

The local maritime authorities have invited divers from the Shanghai rescue and salvage bureau to help with the rescue operation, said Zhou.

The cause of the collision is still being investigated.