BEIJING, June 9 (Reuters) - Rescue workers in southern China have recovered the bodies of eight sailors missing after a ship sank in the Pearl River, state media reported on Saturday.

A 1,181-ton ship carrying 11 crew and a cargo of sand capsized and sank early on Wednesday morning as it tried to turn in a fast-flowing part of the Pearl River at Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, Xinhua news agency said.

Two sailors were rescued on Wednesday and the captain, Shi Yuede, also survived after fleeing the ship in a panic before it sank, the report said.

Shi, who "did not show up" until Thursday, was being investigated by maritime authorities, Xinhua said.

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