One more body of the six Russian canoeists who had been missing
since Sept. 2 was found in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur
Autonomous Region on Sunday.
The body was found at 11:01?AM on the bank of the upper
reaches of the Yurungkax river.
The body was described as "wearing sun-glasses and helmet,
carrying a bag and bare-footed". No food and drinking water were
found near the body.
A Russian rescuer and two Chinese, including Zhang Shaoyun,
deputy chief of the local rescue headquarters, carried the body to
the helicopter and sent it to the Hotan City an hour later.
Rescuers pulled out two bodies on Saturday from under two
canoes.
Forensic doctors are trying to make out the cause of their death
and the three dead are yet to be identified.
The missing 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.
Three Chinese helicopters, including two more newly dispatched
for the search, are hovering to search for the remaining three
missing Russian canoeists.
The six Russian tourists failed to meet their Chinese
interpreter in Hotan in southern Xinjiang as planned on Sept. 2
after they began a canoeing trip on the Yurungkax River in
mid-August.
China has mobilized about 1,700 soldiers, policemen and local
herdsmen to search for the missing tourists.
(Xinhua News Agency September 16, 2007)