Eight Taiwanese were slightly injured yesterday morning in a rock fall in Guangxi Province, China, that killed seven people, the Tourism Bureau said.
China Radio International said the accident happened as tourists were waiting to board boats in the Deicai Mountain Scenic Area in Guilin. A giant rock collapsed, triggering a rockfall down a mountain, it said.
The eight Taiwanese were among 19 people who sustained minor injuries as they tried to flee to avoid the falling rocks.
Two of the Taiwanese suffered fractured hands, but have returned to the tour group after being treated at a hospital, the bureau said.
The bureau said the Taiwanese were on a group tour organized by the Kaohsiung-based Castle Travel Service Co. The 36-member group had been in Guangxi since Tuesday and is due to depart on Monday, the bureau said.
The tour is being led by guide Huang Chien-yi (黃建怡).
Castle Travel said that each tourist is covered by travel insurance and medical insurance for injuries sustained during the trip.
Kaohsiung Association of the Travel Agents representative Shen Pen-li (沈本立) said the association had managed to get hold of Huang, who said that it had been raining heavily in Guilin over the past few days.
Shen said the Huang had polled the group and the members all said that they wanted to continue their trip and return home on Monday as planned.
Additional reporting by AFP
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