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The United States Consulate General in Chengdu would like to inform U.S. citizens that Chinese and international media are reporting that at least 33 people (29 victims and four attackers) were killed and 130 wounded in Kunming, the capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, when at approximately 9:20 p.m. (China time) Saturday, March 1, a group of approximately 10 men carrying knives entered the city's main train station and began indiscriminately attacking people. The Consulate General recommends that U.S. citizens pay attention to their surroundings when traveling in China and report any concerns to the local police.
For the latest security information, U.S. citizens living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet website at travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Country Specific Information, Public Announcements, and Travel Warnings can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States or Canada, or for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time (EST), Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
The U.S. Embassy in Beijing can be reached 24 hours per day at 86-10-8531-4000. The addresses and telephone contact information for the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in China are at the bottom of this announcement.
U.S. citizens residing or traveling in China are reminded to register with the U.S. Embassy or closest U.S. Consulate by entering your travel itinerary and contact information at step.state.gov/step/. In case of difficulties registering online, please contact the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
What kind of help are they able to give you if you were to suddenly find yourself in a similar type of situation! None, maybe after if you survived they could come give you a kiss goodnight in the hospital but hardly a major help these statements.....
Right. Only thing they can probably do is contact next of kin to collect your body.
I guess only Americans are at risk. I haven't heard anything from the Canadian consulate.
they can wash the blood and scrape your nipples off the pavement.
Chengdu French consulate called to take some news.
US consulates and embassies all over the world usually ere on the side of caution in their various warnings. Perhaps that's not so bad, but it's important not to knee-jerk everything they say as some kind of serious or Americans would never have the guts to go anywhere.
The Australians are much the same. I would use consulates and embassy warnings only for general advice but use my own common sense to decide whether a particular country, region etc. is safe or not. The information they provide can also be quite outdated - for example, the Australian travel advice for Myanmar lists 3 border crossings as open for international travellers, one of which is the CHina-Myanmar one, which is completely FALSE. There are plans to open that crossing, but so far you have only been able to go with a permit. Since last August 4 crossings have been open from Thailand, but the Australians still haven't managed to incorporate that into their website, all the while warning not to go near the border regions, which are now open.
I find all of that a little absurd and hope that most people are capable enough of making their own judgements about what's safe and what's not. Most of these bureaucrats haven't gone anywhere near the countries or regions they report on - let us decide what's safe and what's not.
This latest incident in Kunming is very sad, but well, terrorism can occur anywhere. Overall China is still extremely safe, safer than the USA or Australia in many respects. I would say the same can be said about Myanmar - the government there only allows travellers to go where they deem it's safe. Anywhere it's not safe is out of bounds for foreigners.
I agree.
