Search efforts failed for five fishermen who went missing in high waves off northeast China's coastal city of Dalian Monday morning, after a helicopter and two search vessels sent by the local marine rescue center returned to shore in the afternoon.

"Rescuers returned to shore at around 2:00 p.m., because of strong gales and high waves, although the weather was clear," said the marine rescue center in Liaoning Province.

The center received the fishermen's call for help at around 7:00 a.m., and immediately sent a helicopter to search.

The center said that it has sent messages to ships passing through the sea area to continue the rescue.

(Xinhua News Agency May 19, 2008)