UPDATE - 1 found dead, 4 still missing after ships collide off northern Germany

UPDATES WITH NEW DETAILS, CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Anadolu staff

BERLIN (AA) - A crew member died and four more were still missing after their cargo ship sank in the North Sea off the coast of Germany, officials said on Tuesday.

The British-flagged ship Verity sank after colliding with the bulk carrier Polesie in the early hours of the day, about 12 nautical miles (14 miles) southwest of the island of Heligoland, the German Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said in a statement.

“One rescued person has already been taken to a hospital, the other rescued person was brought on board the Hermann Marwede ship, he is now on the way to a hospital,” the emergency command said, adding that a rescue operation was continuing to find the missing four sailors.

The body of one sailor was recovered earlier during the search for the shipwrecked, according to the statement.

The cargo ship Verity was on its way from Bremen, Germany to the British port of Immingham, according to the authorities.