Turkey has launched a search operation to find three Chinese power workers kidnapped by the members of outlawed PKK organization, in the south-eastern part of the country, China's Foreign Ministry said.

The three were seized on Monday evening by members of the outlawed group, known as the PKK.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said China was in contact with Turkish officials searching for the missing trio.

They were working at a power plant in Silopi district, Sirnak province, close to the border with Syria and Iraq.