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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| UK search team join China effort | UK search team join China effort |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Ten UK search and rescue volunteers have flown to China to help in the aftermath of a massive earthquake which has killed nearly 15,000. | Ten UK search and rescue volunteers have flown to China to help in the aftermath of a massive earthquake which has killed nearly 15,000. |
| The International Rescue Corps team are due to arrive in Hong Kong with specialist search equipment. | The International Rescue Corps team are due to arrive in Hong Kong with specialist search equipment. |
| They will then arrange visas and helicopters to take them to the worst affected area. | They will then arrange visas and helicopters to take them to the worst affected area. |
| Chinese authorities have sent 50,000 troops to Sichuan province to search for survivors and distribute aid. | Chinese authorities have sent 50,000 troops to Sichuan province to search for survivors and distribute aid. |
| Equipment | Equipment |
| First reports from the quake's epicentre in Sichuan suggest the number of dead could be higher than feared. | First reports from the quake's epicentre in Sichuan suggest the number of dead could be higher than feared. |
| Local officials from Yingxiu, in Wenchuan County, said the devastation was worse than expected, as roads were blocked and children buried in debris. | Local officials from Yingxiu, in Wenchuan County, said the devastation was worse than expected, as roads were blocked and children buried in debris. |
| We've heard a rumour that another group saw Liz's group at the reserve before the quake struck, but we can't take that as a reassurance Fears for tourists in quake | |
| IRC spokesman Julie Ryan said the searchers were taking a camera system to visually search in the rubble for survivors; a sound listening device to listen for buried people, and a CO2 detector which can find people who are unconscious but still breathing. | IRC spokesman Julie Ryan said the searchers were taking a camera system to visually search in the rubble for survivors; a sound listening device to listen for buried people, and a CO2 detector which can find people who are unconscious but still breathing. |
| She was not yet clear where exactly the team would be sent, as it depended on "where and when they are needed". | She was not yet clear where exactly the team would be sent, as it depended on "where and when they are needed". |
| "We're led to believe there will be no problems with visas, and we'll stay as long as we are needed," she added. | "We're led to believe there will be no problems with visas, and we'll stay as long as we are needed," she added. |
| The IRC volunteers come from Scotland, Cumbria, East Yorkshire, Merseyside and Norfolk. | The IRC volunteers come from Scotland, Cumbria, East Yorkshire, Merseyside and Norfolk. |
| Tourists out of contact | Tourists out of contact |
| Poor weather has continued to hamper aid efforts, and rescuers have been forced to trek to areas cut off by the quake damage and search through the rubble with their bare hands. | Poor weather has continued to hamper aid efforts, and rescuers have been forced to trek to areas cut off by the quake damage and search through the rubble with their bare hands. |
| Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for travel group Kuoni said there was still no news about the whereabouts of a group of 19 British tourists. | Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for travel group Kuoni said there was still no news about the whereabouts of a group of 19 British tourists. |
| The company was in contact with local Foreign Office representatives, she added. | The company was in contact with local Foreign Office representatives, she added. |
| A spokeswoman for British travel association Abta said: "In terms of organised travel or people who are on organised tours, the only people we have not heard from at the moment are these 19 who are travelling with Kuoni." | A spokeswoman for British travel association Abta said: "In terms of organised travel or people who are on organised tours, the only people we have not heard from at the moment are these 19 who are travelling with Kuoni." |
| Earlier, Chinese officials said that 31 British tourists have turned up unharmed in the quake-affected area. | Earlier, Chinese officials said that 31 British tourists have turned up unharmed in the quake-affected area. |
| A Foreign Ministry statement said the group returned to the provincial capital Chengdu on Tuesday night from a visit to the Wolong nature reserve. | A Foreign Ministry statement said the group returned to the provincial capital Chengdu on Tuesday night from a visit to the Wolong nature reserve. |