A very short note to say that Apple, Lingdang and Matt, together with another UK caver living in China are heading North to join the rescue efforts. We're expecting to meet up with a team who are probably best described as the Chinese mountain rescue team, a group organised by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. We expect to be back in around a week although this could vary considerably. The office is effectively closed until our return. Apple's mobile and the office phone are being redirected to one of our staff who is remaining in Chengdu and will be occasionally answered. We do not expect to be able to have any progress reports.

If you are interested in helping the rescue efforts, at the time of writing the best means is probably a donation to the Red Cross.