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UK tourist group 'safe' in China UK tourist group 'safe' in China
(about 2 hours later)
Nineteen British tourists who were out of contact in the area devastated by Monday's earthquake in China are safe and well, reports say. Nineteen British tourists who were out of contact in the area devastated by Monday's earthquake in China are safe and well, state media reports.
China's official news agency Xinhua said the Britons were unharmed and had arranged to stay in the Wolong giant panda nature reserve. Chinese news agency Xinhua said they had arranged to stay in the Wolong giant panda reserve.
The Foreign Office said it was unable to confirm the reports. It also said 33 tourists from Britain, the US and France had been airlifted to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, from Wolong.
Holiday firm Kuoni had said they were on a coach from Chengdu to Wolong in Sichuan province when the tremor hit. It is unclear whether the 19 missing Britons are part of the group of 33.
Earlier, a spokeswoman for travel body Abta had said the 19 were the only UK organised tour group in China still unaccounted for. The Foreign Office could not confirm the reports.
Another 31 British tourists reportedly turned up unharmed on Tuesday night after their visit to the Wolong nature reserve. Xinhua reported that all of those airlifted were in good health.
The official death toll from the earthquake, which struck south-western China on Monday, now stands at nearly 15,000.The official death toll from the earthquake, which struck south-western China on Monday, now stands at nearly 15,000.
Communications down Poor communications
The 19 missing Britons were customers of the Travel Collection company, one of Kuoni's subsidiaries. Anyone in the UK concerned about friends or relatives should call 020 7008 0000 On Wednesday, a spokeswoman for British travel body Abta had said the 19 were the only UK organised tour group in China still unaccounted for. Anyone in the UK concerned about friends or relatives should call 020 7008 0000
They had been accompanied by a local guide and driver. Holiday firm Kuoni had said they were on a coach from Chengdu to Wolong when the tremor hit.
On Wednesday, a Kuoni spokeswoman said lines of communication to the region were down, but the company was providing their families with support. They were customers of the Travel Collection company, one of Kuoni's subsidiaries, and had been accompanied by a local guide and driver.
British travel group Abta said 100 other UK tourists who had been in the affected area were safe. Information on tourists missing in Sichuan has been difficult to obtain because lines of communication to the quake-hit region are down.
Abta said 100 other UK tourists who had been in the affected area were safe.
They included 31 British tourists who reportedly turned up unharmed on Tuesday night after their visit to the Wolong nature reserve.
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.
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.