Over 600 Chinese tourists stranded in Nepal

As of 10:00 a.m. Sunday, a total of 683 Chinese tourists were stranded in Nepal following Saturday's earthquake.

There are some 52 Chinese tour groups in Nepal and various individual tourists, according to the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA).

There are 14 flights planned between China and Nepal on Sunday, including three carrying relief materials and two relief flights.

On the request of the Chinese embassy in Nepal, China Southern Airlines will dispatch an extra aircraft on Sunday to pick up Chinese tourists.

A 62 member search and rescue team, plus six dogs, has gone to Nepal's capital Kathmandu, according to the China Earthquake Administration. Their plane will bring some Chinese tourists home on its return trip.

Li Jinzao, CNTA head, urged Saturday its staff member to ensure the safety of Chinese tourists in Nepal.

Some 1,800 people were killed in Saturday's 8.1-magnitude earthquake and the death toll is expected to rise. Some 5,000 people were injured.

China's commerce ministry has an emergency humanitarian aid plan for Nepal in the wake of the quake.