A total of 18 foreign tourists were still out of reach in Sichuan on Wednesday after Monday's massive quake, an official said.

"We have been waiting for information about them, but so far there are no reports," said Tang Tao, an official with the Sichuan provincial foreign affairs office.

The foreign tourists included 15 Britons, two Chinese-Americans and one Thai.

"They are just out of reach, not missing," Tang stressed.

Tang said the Britons could be stranded in Wolong, while tourism authorities of Shenzhen said the other three, who started their journey from Shenzhen, could be in Wenchuan County.

The Sichuan provincial tourism bureau on Tuesday suspended receiving incoming tour groups.

The Sichuan provincial emergency management office said on Tuesday that more than 2,000 tourists, including the 15 Britons, were stranded in the Aba prefecture.

(Xinhua News Agency May 14, 2008)