The US Evacuated 9 Diplomats From China After They Experienced Strange Auditory Sensations
The U.S. has evacuated more diplomats from China after several workers in Guangzhou were diagnosed with brain injuries after hearing mysterious...
The U.S. has evacuated more diplomats from China after several workers in Guangzhou were diagnosed with brain injuries after hearing mysterious sounds.
At least nine Americans associated with the U.S. consulate in Guangzhou have been medically evacuated after workers complained of strange aural sensations, the Wall Street Journal reported.
An embassy notice in June confirmed that several employees were sent to the U.S. for further evaluation following complaints of unusual auditory phenomena. The warnings came as a government employee in Guangzhou was confirmed to have developed a brain injury consistent with that of 24 U.S. diplomats and their family members who fell ill in Cuba in 2016.
Related: US Diplomats In China Are Suffering Brain Injuries Like Those Linked To Mysterious ‘Sonic Attacks’ In Cuba »
But more than 250 people connected to diplomatic missions in China have received medical evaluations since complaints of the mystery illness arose, the Journal reported, citing an embassy notice sent last week.
In May the U.S. embassy warned all U.S. citizens in China to be cautious. Symptoms of the mystery illness include dizziness, headaches, tinnitus, cognitive issues, and difficulty sleeping, the Embassy said.
Both cases have prompted speculation of a “sonic weapon” attack or exposure to harmful frequencies. A February study of the victims affected by the mystery illness in Cuba suggested that an unknown force projected in the direction of the victims may have caused brain damage.
Americans working in Cuba suffered permanent hearing loss, severe headaches, loss of balance, brain swelling, and disruption to cognitive functions.
Related: Listen To The First Recording Of The ‘Sonic Weapon’ Sickening US Diplomats In Cuba »
Many of the victims remember strange occurrences before the symptoms appeared, though others didn't hear or feel anything.
One diplomat reported a “blaring, grinding noise” that woke him from his bed in a Havana hotel, according to the Associated Press. The AP also reported that some heard a “loud ringing or a high-pitch chirping similar to crickets or cicadas” in short bursts at night, while others said they could walk “in” and “out” of blaring noises that were audible only in certain spots.
Last month, the office of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the establishment of a task force aimed at responding to these cases.
On Friday, Secretary Pompeo spoke to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi about ongoing cooperation in relation to the increased frequency of illness emanating from Guangzhou, according to a State Department press release.
The State Department has previously advised that U.S. citizens in China experiencing strange auditory sensations should not attempt to locate the source, but instead should move to a different location. Citizens are also advised to seek medical advice if symptoms persist.
Read more from Business Insider:
- Trump is putting Crimea on the bargaining table — and making a veiled threat to Germany
- Watch A-10 Thunderbolts practice landing on Germany's autobahn during the Cold War
- A TV journalist risked decapitation while filming a news segment
- A notorious French gangster is on the run after his cronies stole a helicopter and airlifted him out of prison
- Air Force crews are getting a new weapon in their ejection survival packs
WATCH NEXT: