HONG KONG, Jan 8 — An oil tanker caught fire in Hong Kong’s southern waters today, killing one crew member while at least 21 were rescued, police said, with witnesses reporting a loud blast that shook windows several kilometres away.

Rescue operations were going on about one nautical mile south of Lamma Island.

"There are still some crew that haven't been saved,” a police spokeswoman told Reuters. She was not immediately able to provide more details including the name of the tanker, or its size.

A picture of the coastal oil tanker posted on a police Facebook page showed it listing with black smoke pouring from the hull. The ship’s name, Aulac Fortune, could be seen on the stern.

One witness living on the nearby island of Lantau said she heard a big blast.

"It felt like when there is a strong typhoon, when the wind shakes your doors violently. It was really strong,” said the woman, Rhea Nee.

"I thought maybe there was an earthquake. I saw my neighbours all coming out of their houses. The windows of my house were shaking.” — Reuters