Two missing Chinese were found dead on Monday near Tanjona Masoala, some 600 km northeast of the capital, reliable sources told Xinhua.

The deceased Chinese, Li Bo from mainland China and Liu Shouzhi from Taiwan, were found dead by the Madagascan rescue team around lunch time on Monday, a senior Chinese Embassy official said.

Nine Chinese, including eight businessmen from Taiwan and another one from Heilongjiang Province, have been missing off Madagascar's northeast island of Sainte Marie some 500 km northeast of the capital, since last Thursday, when they set off on board a ship to Tanjona Masoala coast on a inspecting mission.

Rescue mission is still going on by the Madagascan Naval, the coast guard and the police, Mr. Xu Jinlong, the Chinese consul in Toamsina, told Xinhua.

(Xinhua News Agency July 15, 2008)