A Hong Kong-registered freighter sank in rough seas off the Philippine coast, leaving 10 crew members missing. <br/><br/>Japan's coast guard said a distress call was alerted yesterday from the freighter from a location about 150 nautical miles off the Philippines' eastern coast. It said that 26 crew members, all Indians, were aboard. <br/><br/>The coast guard said three passing freighters rescued 16 of the crew members from the sea, and a fourth freighter has also joined the search in the area where the Hong Kong ship is believed to have sunk. <br/><br/>Two patrol aircraft are deployed by the coast guard, while three patrol boats are on its way for the search operation. The coast guard said the cause of the sinking is yet to be ascertained.