15 British tourists out of reach in Sichuan

Source: Xinhua | 05-13-2008 11:49

CHENGDU, May 13 (Xinhua) -- A group of "about" 15 British tourists were out of reach on Tuesday morning in Wenchuan, the epicenter of a strong earthquake that struck southwest China Monday, said the Sichuan provincial emergency management office.

A spokesman with the office said more than 2,000 tourists including the British were stranded in the Tibetan-Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Aba as of 8:20 a.m. Tuesday.

He said the British tourists were likely in Wolong, which is known for China Wolong Giant Panda Protection and Research Center.

The spokesman also said a tourist coach was buried by a landslide in Maoxian County, Aba Prefecture, leaving 37 people dead.

Earlier, a spokesman of the Sichuan Provincial Foreign Affairs Office told Xinhua at 7:15 a.m. Tuesday that they had not received such report from various parts of the province, including the tourist attractions of Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong.

However, China Wolong Giant Panda Protection and Research Center, which is in the worst quake-hit area and home to some 130 pandas, was out of contact as all telecommunications services were cut. The casualties and damages there were unknown yet, the spokesman added.

The death toll from Monday's strong earthquake has climbed to 9,219, according to the latest figure given by the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Editor:Zhang Ning