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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| UK tourists 'missing' after quake | UK tourists 'missing' after quake |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A group of 19 British holidaymakers are missing following the Chinese earthquake, a holiday company has said. | 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 a giant panda reserve at Wolong in Sichuan province when the tremor struck. | |
| British travel group Abta said 100 UK tourists in affected areas were safe. | 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. | 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' | 'Lines of communication' |
| The death toll for the earthquake, which struck south-western China on Monday, now stands at over 12,000. | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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." | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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 | Anyone in the UK concerned about friends or relatives should call 020 7008 0000 |
| 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. | 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. |