(AP) -- The ministry says 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis on the tanker Sanchi are unaccounted for following the collision late Saturday with the Hong Kong-registered freighter CF Crystal.

The ministry says the tanker was "completely lost to fire." The Panama-registered vessel was sailing from Iran to South Korea when it collided with the Crystal 257 kilometers (160 miles) from shore.

All 21 members of the Crystal's crew - all Chinese nationals - have been rescued.

Chinese authorities are carrying out a search and rescue effort for the missing tanker crew.