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UK tourists 'missing' after quake | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A group of 19 British holidaymakers are missing following the Chinese earthquake, a holiday company has said. | |
Travel firm Kuoni said the Britons were on a coach from Chengdu to Wolong in Wenchuan County in Sichuan province when the tremor struck. | |
British travel group Abta said 100 UK tourists in affected areas were safe. | |
The Foreign Office said it had no confirmed reports of British injuries, but local reports quoted authorities as saying 15 Britons were unaccounted for. | |
'Lines of communication' | |
The death toll for the earthquake, which struck south-western China on Monday, now stands at over 12,000. | |
Officials say they have no news yet from the towns at the epicentre of the quake, which had a magnitude of 7.8. | |
They are all safe and none are in danger Sean TiptonAbta | |
Kuoni said that the 19 British tourists had been customers of the Travel Collection company, one of its subsidiaries, and had been accompanied by a local guide and driver. | |
A statement from the company said it was trying to make contact with the group. | |
It added: "All lines of communication to the region are down and as such no further information is known at this time. We are working closely with the British Consulate in China." | |
China's Xinhua news agency said that 15 Britons were among 2,000 tourists stranded in Wenchuan county, Sichuan province. | |
Reports had quoted Chinese authorities as saying that they had lost contact with the 15-strong group of British tourists in Wolong, an area famous for its Giant Pandas. | |
The Foreign Office said it had been unable to validate the reports and was trying to establish the whereabouts of any Britons in the devastated region. | The Foreign Office said it had been unable to validate the reports and was trying to establish the whereabouts of any Britons in the devastated region. |
An FO spokeswoman said: "We have no confirmed reports of any Britons being hurt in the earthquake. | An FO spokeswoman said: "We have no confirmed reports of any Britons being hurt in the earthquake. |
"We are working on trying to track down all the Britons in the area." | "We are working on trying to track down all the Britons in the area." |
But Abta said that about 100 UK tourists on tour operator trips in areas of China affected by the earthquake are safe. | |
Spokesman Sean Tipton said: "They are all safe and none are in danger. | |
"We have been in contact with UK holiday companies and there are about 100 clients in the Sichuan region at the moment. | |
"In line with Foreign Office advice, there will be no tours to that region for the time being." | "In line with Foreign Office advice, there will be no tours to that region for the time being." |
Anyone in the UK concerned about friends or relatives should call 020 7008 0000 | |
The earthquake, which had a magnitude of 7.8, struck south-western China on Monday afternoon. | The earthquake, which had a magnitude of 7.8, struck south-western China on Monday afternoon. |
In Maoxian county, 37 tourists were killed when their coach was buried in a landslide caused by the earthquake. Their nationalities were not clear. | In Maoxian county, 37 tourists were killed when their coach was buried in a landslide caused by the earthquake. Their nationalities were not clear. |
The Foreign Office said anyone in the UK who is concerned about friends or relatives who may be in China should call its helpline on 020 7008 0000. | |
It has advised against all but essential travel to Sichuan province. | It has advised against all but essential travel to Sichuan province. |
'On standby' | 'On standby' |
Meanwhile, British rescue workers were waiting to learn if they will travel to China to provide assistance. | Meanwhile, British rescue workers were waiting to learn if they will travel to China to provide assistance. |
The International Rescue Corps (IRC) and Rapid UK, which both provide disaster response personnel, said they had contacted authorities in the UK and China with offers of assistance. | The International Rescue Corps (IRC) and Rapid UK, which both provide disaster response personnel, said they had contacted authorities in the UK and China with offers of assistance. |
Julie Ryan, a spokeswoman for the IRC, said five members were ready to join an international search and rescue team. | Julie Ryan, a spokeswoman for the IRC, said five members were ready to join an international search and rescue team. |
"We've put them on standby waiting to see if they will be mobilised," she added. | "We've put them on standby waiting to see if they will be mobilised," she added. |