Holiday flights in and out of Hainan island in the South China Sea have been suspended due to a COVID outbreak.

Authorities placed the island, known as ‘China’s Hawaii’, under lockdown on 7 August, with holidaymakers told to stay in their hotels.

The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) says Hainan authorities are arranging charter flights for travellers who need to leave the province. British citizens are advised to consult the Hainan Foreign Affairs WeChat account for updates or to contact the Hainan authorities.

“Contact numbers can be found by searching on WeChat for “24-hour Service Hotlines for Stranded Travelers in Hainan” (English speakers may not be available), or call the Hainan government hotline on 12345. If you need urgent consular assistance, contact the British consulate on +86 (0)20 8314 3000,” the FCDO said in its latest update.

Some 80,000 tourists are believed to be stranded on Hainan in southern China, according to media reports.

However, the number is not expected to include many UK citizens since international travel to the island has been suspended since the start of the pandemic.

Hainan experienced only a small number of COVID cases until earlier this month, when almost 1,000 were recorded in its major tourist hub, Sanya.