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UK tourist group 'safe' in China Tourists safe after China quake
(40 minutes later)
The Foreign Office is investigating reports that 19 British tourists missing in a Chinese province struck by Monday's earthquake are safe and well. Fourteen UK tourists who were visiting a region in China when a massive earthquake struck have been found safe, the British ambassador says.
Chinese news agency Xinhua had reported they had arranged to stay in the Wolong giant panda reserve in Sichuan. They were taken from the Wolong area in Sichuan, famed for its panda reserve, to Chengdu "where they are safe and well", Sir William Ehrman said.
It also said 33 tourists from Britain, the US and France had been airlifted to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, from Wolong. He said consular officials were looking after them, and another five tourists were due to be taken to Chengdu later.
It is unclear whether the 19 missing Britons are part of the group of 33. The quake killed more than 15,000 people, with 26,000 still trapped.
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.
China's tourism agency told Xinhua that as of Wednesday evening it was aware of 893 foreign tourists stranded in the quake region - although the nationalities were not given.
The number of domestic tourists stranded was 2,601.
Poor communications
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
Holiday firm Kuoni had said they were on a coach from Chengdu to Wolong when the tremor hit.
They were customers of the Travel Collection company, one of Kuoni's subsidiaries, and had been accompanied by a local guide and driver.
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.
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.