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Five UK and 11 Australian holidaymakers on a Wendy Wu Tours escorted group tour in Nepal are due to leave the earthquake-hit country today (Monday).
All passengers have been accounted for and accommodated at the group hotel, described as a modern building designed to withstand earthquakes.
The operator has been continually monitoring the group’s movements by telephone from the moment the quake struck. All the passenger’s next of kin have been contacted and informed that their relatives are safe and well.
Managing director, Laurence Hicks, advised that the airport opened for commercial traffic yesterday and efforts were made to bring forward the group’s departure to Sunday.
However, due to a backlog of passengers who were already scheduled to depart receiving priority, the first flights were already full.
Hicks said: “As long as Cathay Pacific operates flights as scheduled today (Monday), which it intends to do, then the group will be leaving Nepal.
“All passengers and ground operators with Wendy Wu Tours are safe and no one has been injured.
“We have ensured that our customers are receiving ample food and comfortable accommodation.
“As a precautionary measure, all customers have been directed to remain within the hotel parameters to ensure safety.”
The company is reviewing imminent departures where itineraries will be affected by the earthquake along with its travel partners on the ground locally and will be contacting all passengers who are due to visit any affected area.