PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA: The fate of 26 Malaysian tourists who went missing after the devastating quake in Sichuan province, China, is still unknown.

However, 15 other Malaysian tourists stranded in Jiuzhaigou and Shifang, also in the province, have been located.

Malaysian consul-general in Kunming, Ayauf Bachi, said yesterday 11 of them were waiting for a flight out of Jiuzhaigou while the others were staying in their hotels in Jiuzhaigou and Shifang.

Due to the huge number of people waiting to fly out of the disaster area, it is not known when they will be able to depart.

"According to their schedule, they will fly to Chengdu and then to Hong Kong and finally Kuala Lumpur," Ayauf said.

Ayauf is headed to Chengdu to liaise with the Earthquake Emergency Centre in search of the missing Malaysians. He will arrive there with an official from the Malaysian Embassy in Beijing today.

Meanwhile, all Malaysians living and working in Mianyang, China, and its neighbouring city Mianzhu, are reported to be safe.

Mianyang is about 100km away from Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, and is among the worst-hit areas.

According to Jacky Lee who works in a Chinese medicine factory in Mianyang, there are four Malaysians including himself living and working in the city.

"We are all fine here," said the general manager .

Lee added that Malaysian Chia Chin Hau, who a financial controller with Sichuan Mianzhu Norwest Phosphate Chemical Company Limited, was also safe and had flown to Singapore.

However, it is learnt that the chemical plant's mine in Qingping had collapsed and some miners were buried.

Lee commended the Chinese government's swift response in setting up a rescue operation. -The Star, ANN

He said Malaysians in Mianyang would continue to stay there.

Wisma Putra has set up a 24-hour operations room to render assistance to relatives of the missing Malaysians.

They can call 03-8887 4570/ 8889 2746 or e-mail dutyofficer@kln.gov.my.