(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-09-16 15:51

HOTAN -- One more body of the six Russian canoeists who had been missing since September 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.

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

Prior to the findings, China has mobilized about 1,700 soldiers, policemen and local herdsmen to search for the missing tourists.

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.