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UK tourists 'turn up' after quake | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Chinese officials say 31 British tourists have turned up unharmed in the area devastated by Monday's earthquake. | |
A Foreign Ministry statement said the group returned to the provincial capital Chengdu on Tuesday night from a visit to the Wolong nature reserve. | |
It is not clear if the group is the same as the 19 Britons who were reported missing earlier. | |
Travel firm Kuoni said the 19 were on a coach from Chengdu to 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 information of British injuries, but that local reports said 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." |
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. |