Chile earthquake: Concern mounts for missing Scots

• Dave Sandercock and Kirsty Duff were on holiday in Chile when an earthquake measuring 8.8 on the Richter Scale struck. Picture: Duff family

Kirsty Duff and Dave Sandercock who were staying in a beach resort when the massive 'quake struck on Saturday, have yet to contact their families.

Efforts to get through to their bed and breakfast in the resort of Pichilemu have been hampered by damage to telephone and power lines.

Mr Sandercock, 25, from Edinburgh and Ms Duff, also 25 and from Stonehaven, had been in the country for several weeks when an earthquake measuring 8.8 on the Richter Scale struck.

Mr Sandercock's sister, Ellie, posted messages on her Twitter page appealing for help.

She wrote: "People are posting on Facebook from there, yet no news from my bro Dave Sandercock. Can anyone help?"

Details of Mr Sandercock and Miss Duff were also posted on the missing person website Google Person Finder.

The site was set up for families to post details of people missing since the earthquake on Saturday.

Ellie Sandercock wrote that her brother and his girlfriend were "keen surfers" and were staying in the Pichilemu region at a local bed and breakfast.

She wrote: "Dave is 5ft 10ins (muscular build) with blonde hair. He may also have a beard. He has a Scottish accent.

"He is travelling with his girlfriend Kirsty Duff. They are probably in Pichilemu, O'Higgins Region. Last contact was Thursday 25 February. They were staying at a local B&B/pension (name unknown). They are keen surfers."

Another British couple, Andre Lanyon, from Guernsey, and Laura Hapgood, both 29, were also understood to be in Pichilemu when the 'quake struck.

The Surfer's Cottage, an eco-cottage for surfers in Pichilemu, has posted details on its website of those missing.

As well as the two couples, the list includes another Briton, Tina Cadwallader Lopes, who was in the resort with her Portuguese husband and two children.

The Foreign Office has so far made contact with around 100 Britons in the stricken country but said no UK casualties were reported at present.