BEIRUT, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- A commercial ship with 82 passengers on board sank on Thursday night near north Lebanon city Tripoli, only four persons have been rescued till now, Lebanese official National News Agency reported.

    According to the report, the ship, raising the Panamanian flag, was transporting cattle and headed towards the Syrian port of Tartus. It sank 11 miles away from Tripoli's port.

    Local news website Now Lebanon reported that the name of the ship is "Dany F."

Rescue workers help a survivor of a sunken Panama ship after he was rescued off the port of Tripoli in northern Lebanon, December 17, 2009. Dozens of people were missing on Thursday after a ship carrying livestock sank in the Mediterranean off Lebanon in stormy weather, Lebanese naval sources said

    Earlier report said that Lebanese navy and UN Interim Force in Lebanon are working together to save the others amid heavy rain.

    There is no official statement for the cause of the accident, however, it is believed that the strong rainstorm dominating the east Mediterranean sea might be the major cause of it.