Two of the three geologists that went missing in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau last week have been confirmed dead, the Beijing Youth Daily reported on Friday.

Rescue efforts for the last missing person are ongoing.

The three, all from the Beijing Institute of Geology and in their twenties, entered the Hoh Xil area in September and were working on a geological survey project when they went missing on Nov 16, according to the rescue team.

The uninhabited area has an altitude of 4,862 meters and is characterized by numerous marshes and volatile weather.

The rescue team, comprising more than 30 people from security forces, medical staff and other officials, arrived at the scene on Nov 18.