BEIJING - Seven people onboard a bulk freighter were rescued Sunday morning after the vessel ran aground in waters at the estuary of the Yangtze River, the country's maritime rescue authority said.

According to the East China Sea Rescue Bureau, the bulk freighter with a crew of seven, which was overloaded with 1,700 tonnes of stone materials, ran aground at the northern guiding dike of the deep-water navigation route at about 4:36 am after misreading the channel.

Water began flooding the vessel shortly after the accident, threatening the lives of those onboard, according to the bureau. All seven were rescued by 6 a.m.