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Tourists safe after China quake | Tourists safe after China quake |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Nineteen UK tourists who were visiting a region in China when a massive earthquake struck have been found safe, the British ambassador says. | |
Fourteen were flown from the Wolong area in Sichuan, famed for its panda reserve, to Chengdu, with five due to fly out later, Sir William Ehrman said. | |
He said they were "safe and well" and consular officials were looking after them in the provincial capital. | |
The quake killed more than 15,000 people, with 26,000 still trapped. | The quake killed more than 15,000 people, with 26,000 still trapped. |
The British tourists were visiting the panda reserve on Monday when the quake struck. | The British tourists were visiting the panda reserve on Monday when the quake struck. |
Contact was lost with them, raising fears they had been injured in the quake which left villages flattened. Other British tourists have been accounted for. | Contact was lost with them, raising fears they had been injured in the quake which left villages flattened. Other British tourists have been accounted for. |
Panda 'sense' | |
Tourist Barry Jackson said the tour party had been waiting for a glimpse of a giant panda when the quake struck. | |
"Then suddenly we had this horrendous noise which is - well, you can't describe what it's like - it's like a huge, huge noise and the land's shaking beneath you and the first thing that we all thought to do, was to run." | |
Fellow traveller Diane Etkins said the pandas were being "really lazy, just eating bamboo" but then they suddenly started "parading round their pen". | |
"Looking back, they must have sensed something was wrong." | |
Speaking in a hotel, Ms Etkins praised the operation to evacuate the area: "The devastation...in that area that we were in is horrendous and for them to have got us out so quickly is amazing". | |
We've been living on our nerves for the past few days, we're just shattered, so this is an enormous relief Simon WagenerRelative of British tourist | We've been living on our nerves for the past few days, we're just shattered, so this is an enormous relief Simon WagenerRelative of British tourist |
Sir William said on Thursday: "The UK is grateful for the help and assistance of the Chengdu authorities on this matter." | |
The Foreign Office said the holidaymakers were flown by helicopter to Chengdu. | The Foreign Office said the holidaymakers were flown by helicopter to Chengdu. |
The brother-in-law of tourist Liz Cullen said he was relieved to hear she was safe, after having heard nothing from her since Sunday. | The brother-in-law of tourist Liz Cullen said he was relieved to hear she was safe, after having heard nothing from her since Sunday. |
Contact | Contact |
Simon Wagener said she rang about 0400 BST on Thursday to say she was about to be airlifted out of the reserve. | Simon Wagener said she rang about 0400 BST on Thursday to say she was about to be airlifted out of the reserve. |
Mr Wagener told the BBC: "We've been living on our nerves for the past few days, we're just shattered, so this is an enormous relief." | Mr Wagener told the BBC: "We've been living on our nerves for the past few days, we're just shattered, so this is an enormous relief." |
He said he had only spoken briefly to Ms Cullen and had no further details of her ordeal. | He said he had only spoken briefly to Ms Cullen and had no further details of her ordeal. |
Holiday firm Kuoni had said they were on a coach from Chengdu to Wolong when the tremor hit. | 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. | They were customers of the Travel Collection company, one of Kuoni's subsidiaries, and had been accompanied by a local guide and driver. |
China's tourism agency told news agency Xinhua as of Wednesday evening it was aware of 893 foreign tourists stranded in the quake region - although the nationalities were not given. | China's tourism agency told news agency Xinhua 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. | The number of domestic tourists stranded was 2,601. |
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 |
Abta said earlier 100 other UK tourists who had been in the affected area were safe. | Abta said earlier 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. | 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. |