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British tourists caught in Chinese earthquake found safe

16/05/2008

A group of British tourists who went missing in a panda reserve after being caught in the recent Chinese earthquake have been found safe and well.

The British ambassador to China, Sir William Ehrman, confirmed that the 19 holiday makers had all been accounted for.

"Of the group of 19 British tourists that went missing in the Wolong area 14 have now been evacuated to Chengdu where they are safe and well.

"We understand the remaining five tourists are also safe and expect to be evacuated to Chengdu later.

"The UK is grateful for the help and assistance of the Chengdu authorities on this matter," he added.

The Home Office confirmed that the British tourists, who had been visiting the reserve in the Wenchuan region when Monday's earthquake struck, had been evacuated by helicopter.

Sky News quotes the daughter of British couple David and Diane Atkins, from Portsmouth, who were airlifted to safety, as saying: "I spoke to mum, she was in the helicopter and she was just told to say 'I'm safe'. She said she would contact us when they get to their destination.

"My dad is fine too. I'm just so relieved that they are OK - it's so amazing," Lisa Staples added.

20,000 people have so far been confirmed dead as a result of the earthquake with the death toll expected to rise to around 50,000.