Exasperated officials in Laos said today they lack the equipment and manpower to locate the fuselage and more than 30 bodies lost when a plane crashed and disappeared into the river two days earlier.

Lao Airlines flight QV301 crashed Wednesday as it prepared to land in stormy weather at airport in southern Laos. All 49 people on board, more than half of whom were foreigners, are presumed dead.

As of Friday morning only 17 bodies had been found, said Lao Transport Minister. Relatives of a Chinese victim identified the body Friday, marking the first identification of a body since the crash.

"It's very difficult to find (bodies) under water," the transport minister told reporters at the crash site, where the rescue operation was stalled as teams in boats waited for instructions and the arrival of more help. French, Thai and Singaporean experts were expected later in the day to help with forensics and locating the black box, officials from each country said.

Thailand, which lost five nationals in the crash, is deeply involved in the search, providing navy divers and other skilled manpower that its poorer neighbor lacks.