Britons 'missing' in China quake epicentre zone

At least 15 British tourists are unaccounted for following yesterday's 7.8-magnitude earthquake in China, it has been claimed.

The official Xinhua news agency quoted a Sichuan provincial official as saying the group was "out of reach" in Wenchuan, the epicentre of the quake.

He said the Britons were most likely in Wolong, home to a giant panda research centre.

At least 9,219 people have been killed by Monday's earthquake, including 37 tourists whose coach was buried by a landslide in Maoxian county in Aba prefecture.

A further 2,000 are still stranded in the Tibetan-Qiang autonomous prefecture.

A spokeswoman at the UK Foreign Office told travelbite.co.uk that British staff were working closely with Chinese authorities on the ground.

"There are no confirmed reports of any British casualties but we are aware that there are British tourists in the affected area," she said.

"We are working around the clock trying to establish there whereabouts."

Foreign secretary David Miliband said Monday's earthquake was a "further and tragic shock" to a region already suffering with the devastation of Cyclone Nargis in Burma.

"Emerging news of the loss of life and devastation in China is deeply saddening," he continued.

"My thoughts are with the Chinese people and those families who have suffered loss. The Chinese government are to be commended for their quick and efficient response. The UK stands ready to assist."

The Foreign Office has set up a dedicated phone line in Beijing for Britons concerned about friends and family travelling in China on +86 10 5192 4499