No foreign casualties reported so far WATCH VIDEO Source: CCTV.com |...(More)

No foreign casualties reported so far WATCH VIDEO Source: CCTV.com | 05-14-2008 10:09 Special Report: Strong quake jolts SW China The Foreign Ministry says China welcomes the international community's goodwill and support. It also says it has no reports of any foreign casualties so far. Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said the central government is highly concerned about the safety of foreigners in China. He said it is currently difficult to obtain timely information since the quake has damaged parts of the traffic and communications systems. He said the Foreign Ministry will stay in touch with all the foreign embassies in China to share their information. Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said, "So far, the ministry has not received any reports about casualties of foreigners in the earthquake-affected areas." Meanwhile, Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China has not officially issued an appeal for aid from the international community. He said such a call will depend on how the situation develops. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, "China appreciates the goodwill offered by the international community. However, the government can not yet get complete information about the quake-hit areas. China will be in contact with those countries and organizations if necessary." The Foreign Ministry also expressed its condolences to Myanmar in the wake of Cyclone Nargis. China will continue to send aid and supplies to the country. 3 more foreign tourists can´t be located in Sichuan Source: Xinhua | 05-13-2008 19:02 Special Report: Strong quake jolts SW China SHENZHEN, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Two Chinese-Americans and one Thai tourist in Sichuan Province haven't been located following Monday's earthquake, the tourism bureau of southern Shenzhen City said on Tuesday. Earlier, 15 British tourists were reported as out of reach. 15 British tourists out of reach in Sichuan Source: Xinhua | 05-13-2008 11:49 Special Report: Strong quake jolts SW China 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. No report of deaths of foreigners in quake Source: Xinhua | 05-13-2008 10:02 Special Report: Strong quake jolts SW China CHENGDU -- There was no report that foreigners were killed or injured in southwest China's Sichuan earthquake, a Sichuan government official said on Tuesday morning. A spokesman of the Sichuan Provincial Foreign Affairs Office told Xinhua at 7:15 am 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.(Less)