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Tourists safe after China quake | Tourists safe after China quake |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Nineteen UK tourists who were visiting a region in China when a massive earthquake struck have been found safe, the British ambassador says. | 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. | 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. | 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' | Panda 'sense' |
Tourist Barry Jackson said the tour party had been waiting for a glimpse of a giant panda when the quake struck. | 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." | "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." |
For most of the time I was more concerned particularly about my mum not knowing whether I was alive or dead and probably thinking I was dead Liz CullenBritish tourist class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7402604.stm">Tourist tells of hope and despair | |
Fellow traveller Diane Etkins said the pandas were being "really lazy, just eating bamboo" but then they suddenly started "parading round their pen". | 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." | "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". | 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". |
Tourist Liz Cullen rang her worried sister in the UK about 0400 BST on Thursday - the first contact since Sunday. | Tourist Liz Cullen rang her worried sister in the UK about 0400 BST on Thursday - the first contact since Sunday. |
"I went between hope and despair, and certainly for most of the time I was more concerned particularly about my mum not knowing whether I was alive or dead and probably thinking I was dead. | "I went between hope and despair, and certainly for most of the time I was more concerned particularly about my mum not knowing whether I was alive or dead and probably thinking I was dead. |
"I'd have given anything to be able to contact her and say, 'look, this has happened, the situation here isn't ideal, but we're alive and well'." | "I'd have given anything to be able to contact her and say, 'look, this has happened, the situation here isn't ideal, but we're alive and well'." |
Rolling boulders | Rolling boulders |
Sir William said on Thursday "it was a great relief" to get the tourists to safety. | Sir William said on Thursday "it was a great relief" to get the tourists to safety. |
He said he had seen many "harrowing sights" during the past few days. | He said he had seen many "harrowing sights" during the past few days. |
"One of the stories I keep hearing is how, in the mountainous areas, vast boulders, - many the size of houses - were rolling down the slopes all over the place. That happened to the British tourists in the panda reserve, but mercifully none were struck." | "One of the stories I keep hearing is how, in the mountainous areas, vast boulders, - many the size of houses - were rolling down the slopes all over the place. That happened to the British tourists in the panda reserve, but mercifully none were struck." |
He thanking the Chengdu authorities for their help with the tourists, who were flown by helicopter to Chengdu. | He thanking the Chengdu authorities for their help with the tourists, who were flown by helicopter to Chengdu. |
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 |
Holiday firm Kuoni said the tourists were customers of the Travel Collection company, one of Kuoni's subsidiaries, and had been accompanied by a local guide and driver. | Holiday firm Kuoni said the tourists were customers of the Travel Collection company, one of Kuoni's subsidiaries, and had been accompanied by a local guide and driver. |
"Two Kuoni UK staff are at the hotel," a spokesman said. | "Two Kuoni UK staff are at the hotel," a spokesman said. |
"They will be working with Consular staff and the British ambassador to offer all possible assistance and support and will be making arrangements for their safe return to the UK. | "They will be working with Consular staff and the British ambassador to offer all possible assistance and support and will be making arrangements for their safe return to the UK. |
"We are so very relieved that our group are safe and we would like to send our deepest thanks to all involved in their rescue." | "We are so very relieved that our group are safe and we would like to send our deepest thanks to all involved in their rescue." |
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. |
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. |