This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8543617.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Six Britons missing after quake Britons safe and well after quake
(about 8 hours later)
Six Britons are reported as missing in Chile after Saturday's earthquake. Four Britons feared missing in Chile after Saturday's earthquake have been found safe and well.
Dave Sandercock, from Edinburgh, and Kirsty Duff, from Aberdeenshire, are among two couples named on a website for surfers in the resort of Pichilemu. Two couples, Dave Sandercock and Kirsty Duff, and Andre Lanyon and Laura Hapgood, had been listed as missing on a website for surfers in Pichilemu.
The Surfer's Cottage also lists another couple - Andre Lanyon, of Guernsey, and Laura Hapgood - along with Tina Cadwallader Lopes and a sixth Briton. The list still includes Briton Tina Cadwallader Lopes, who was in the resort with her husband and two children, and another Briton.
The Foreign Office says it is working to establish the whereabouts of Britons but no casualties have been reported. The Foreign Office says no casualties have been reported.
The eco-cottage website for surfers at the resort, three hours from Santiago, said a search was ongoing for those who had failed to contact their families. The eco-cottage Surfers' Cottage website for surfers at the resort, three hours from Chilean capital Santiago, said a search was ongoing for those who had failed to contact their families.
Mr Sandercock, from Stonehaven, and his partner Ms Duff, both 24, had arrived in the country three weeks ago. The family of Mr Sandercock and Ms Duff said it was a "massive relief" when they realised the pair were safe and well in Santiago.
'Desperate for news' In a statement the families added: "We have been in direct contact with Kirsty and Dave and can confirm that they are safe and well.
His sister Ellie has put messages on social networking site Twitter appealing for help. "We wish to thank all of those who have offered support and assistance during this difficult time. We hope that all other families find their loved ones soon."
She wrote: "People are posting on Facebook from there, yet no news from my bro Dave Sandercock. Can anyone help?"
In another entry she said she was "desperate for news" of the pair.
The families of the couple - who are graduates of Stirling University - have confirmed they are awaiting news from them.
'It feels like you're floating''It feels like you're floating'
Their details were also posted on the missing person website Google Person Finder, which was set up in the wake of the earthquake. Andre Lanyon, from Guernsey, and Laura Hapgood, both 29, also turned up in Santiago.
Andre Lanyon, from Guernsey, and Laura Hapgood, both 29, have also failed to contact their families. They had arrived at the surfing town of Pichilemu on Friday. Mr Lanyon's mother, Valerie, 55, said: "I haven't slept for three days and I certainly won't be getting any tonight. We're so excited and relieved.
A fifth Briton, Tina Cadwallader Lopes, was in the resort with her Portuguese husband and two children. "He sounded fine. They had just arrived in Santiago when they called."
Another British woman, Charlotte Mountford, was on the 14th floor of an apartment building in Santiago when the earthquake hit. She described her experience to BBC News. Mr Lanyon was surprised to learn he had sparked national headlines, his mother said.
Ms Mountford told the BBC: "It's just a sense of being at sea, it feels as if you're floating - you're constantly on the move. The four were in Pichilemu when the quake struck.
Another British woman, Charlotte Mountford, was on the 14th floor of an apartment building in Santiago when the earthquake hit.
She told the BBC: "It's just a sense of being at sea, it feels as if you're floating - you're constantly on the move.
"It's like a city on the ocean, and when I'm up here in my apartment it's worse."It's like a city on the ocean, and when I'm up here in my apartment it's worse.
"Then with the big aftershocks you can hear the paint, the walls, cracking that bit more, and you wonder, is this going to be the last straw? Is the building going to crumble? But it hasn't so far.""Then with the big aftershocks you can hear the paint, the walls, cracking that bit more, and you wonder, is this going to be the last straw? Is the building going to crumble? But it hasn't so far."
It is deeply frustrating that it can take some time to get our staff to where they need to be Jeremy LovelessOxfamIt is deeply frustrating that it can take some time to get our staff to where they need to be Jeremy LovelessOxfam
The death toll of 708 from the 8.8-magnitude quake is expected to rise.The death toll of 708 from the 8.8-magnitude quake is expected to rise.
Chile's military is attempting to restore order in the country's second city, Concepcion. Troops have fired tear gas at looters attempting to flee with food and other goods from wrecked stores in the city.Chile's military is attempting to restore order in the country's second city, Concepcion. Troops have fired tear gas at looters attempting to flee with food and other goods from wrecked stores in the city.
Meanwhile, Gordon Brown has sent a message of sympathy to Chilean President Michelle Bachelet.Meanwhile, Gordon Brown has sent a message of sympathy to Chilean President Michelle Bachelet.
A spokesman for the prime minister said the "catastrophe" was "truly devastating" and that Mr Brown was following the situation closely.A spokesman for the prime minister said the "catastrophe" was "truly devastating" and that Mr Brown was following the situation closely.
He also said the European Commission had approved £2.7m in aid and that the Department for International Development was monitoring the situation. He also said the European Commission had approved £2.7m in aid, and that the Department for International Development was monitoring the situation.
UK charity workers are on their way to Chile to help survivors, with staff from Oxfam among those due to touch down in the South American country.UK charity workers are on their way to Chile to help survivors, with staff from Oxfam among those due to touch down in the South American country.
Oxfam's deputy humanitarian director, Jeremy Loveless, said: "Access to the affected area is often difficult during the first 24 hours after an earthquake and it is deeply frustrating that it can take some time to get our staff to where they need to be. 170 people traced
Homes damaged
"Until our team has been able to reach the affected area and complete an early assessment, we are unclear how we will best be able to assist the thousands of people affected by the quake."
About 2 million Chileans are thought to have been affected by the tremors, which caused buildings and roads to collapse and left some 1.5 million homes damaged.About 2 million Chileans are thought to have been affected by the tremors, which caused buildings and roads to collapse and left some 1.5 million homes damaged.
About 65,000 British tourists visit Chile each year, according to the country's tourist authority.About 65,000 British tourists visit Chile each year, according to the country's tourist authority.
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said it was in contact with embassy officials in Santiago, who were in touch with local authorities trying to establish the whereabouts of British nationals in Chile. Foreign Office minister Chris Bryant said officials were working hard to locate British nationals in Chile.
"Embassy officials are also co-ordinating with EU and other international partners and we continue to monitor the situation closely. At present no British National casualties have been reported," the spokesman said. "One of our honorary consuls has now reached Concepcion near the epicentre and is attempting to make contact with the British nationals we know about there."
He added that a consular resilience team from Buenos Aires was on the ground to support the efforts of the embassy, and a rapid deployment team from London was on its way to Santiago. He said consular staff in Chile had been reinforced by an emergency response team from the British Embassy in Buenos Aires, and five further staff from London were due to arrive on Tuesday.
"Our teams in Chile have so far located and checked on over 170 British nationals, all of whom have confirmed they are safe.
"At present we have no confirmed reports of British casualties," he said.