(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-09-17 16:44

The search for three missing Russian tourists in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was again suspended on Monday as a sandstorm continued.

Two helicopters, carrying Chinese and Russian rescue experts, were scheduled to take off at 9:30 am Monday and fly to the upper reaches of the Yurungkax River where the bodies of three missing Russian canoeists were found, said Yili Ismail, deputy director of the general office of the Xinjiang regional government.

"But the flights had to be postponed because of a sandstorm that started on Sunday afternoon," he said.

A search of the same area was abandoned on Sunday afternoon when two helicopters had to return 23 minutes after take-off at 4:00 pm.

The sandstorm is predicted to abate on Tuesday, according to the meteorological bureau the Hotan Prefecture in southern Xinjiang.

"The search headquarters will keep a close eye on the weather change and resume operations immediately once weather permits," Yili said.

The six Russian tourists failed to meet their Chinese interpreter in Hotan as planned on September 2 after they began a canoeing trip on the Yurungkax River in mid-August.

Rescuers retrieved three bodies over the weekend: two from under two canoes on Saturday and one on the bank of the upper reaches of the Yurungkax River on Sunday.

The last body found was described as "wearing sun-glasses and helmet, carrying a bag and bare-foot". No food and drinking water were found near the body.

Forensic doctors are trying to determine the cause of death and identify the bodies.

The government has mobilized about 1,700 soldiers, policemen and local herdsmen to search for the missing tourists.

The six Russians have been identified as Vladimir Smetannikov, Sergey Chernik, Andrey Pautov, Dmitry Tishchenko, Ivan Chernik and Alexander Zverev, with the youngest aged 25 and the oldest 47.