All Hongkongers missing after Sichuan quake found

All Hongkongers who went missing in the aftermath of a magnitude 7 earthquake in Sichuan have been found.

The quake, which took place in the southwestern Chinese province on Tuesday night, has claimed 13 lives and injured 164 people, according to the local prefecture government.

The epicentre of the quake was near Jiuzhaigou National Park, which said it had 38,799 visitors on Tuesday. More than 31,500 tourists in the region had been moved to safe locations, said the government of Aba Prefecture, where the park is located.

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, expressed concern over the Sichuan earthquake and offered his deep sympathy to victims and their families.

Cheung said on Wednesday that the government would closely monitor the situation of Hong Kong residents in affected areas and provide all practicable assistance to them.

Hong Kong’s immigration department said on Wednesday morning that as of 10am, it had received requests for assistance or inquiries from 39 Hongkongers or their families, all of whom have since been confirmed safe. Two were earlier unreachable on Wednesday, but both were later contacted.

13 dead and 164 injured, Hongkongers missing as magnitude 7 quake rattles Sichuan

A staff member at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Chengdu said it had not received any requests for assistance from Hongkongers.