ABSOLUTE DEVASTATION

More than 1,000 dead so far with hols hotspot Marrakech hit hard

- PHIL CARDY, JOHN SIDDLE and NICOLA SMALL

FEARS were growing last night for Britons caught up in the devastating Morocco earthquake as the death toll topped 1,000.

The epicentre was close to Marrakech, the country’s most popular international tourist destination – where an estimated 5,000 to 8,000 UK holidaymakers were believed to be staying.

The massive quake, which hit 7.2 on the Richter scale, caused hundreds of buildings to collapse in the area and 1,305 are so far confirmed dead with 1,204 injured, officials said.

No Britons have yet been confirmed among the dead but concerns were last night growing over holidaymakers already reported missing. They include Rebecca Calvert, 65, and friend Hilary Mckegney, 64, who have not been in contact with loved ones since the country’s most powerful quake in 120 years hit on Friday night.

Rebecca’s daughter Katie, 27, has called on the Foreign Office to send in rescue teams to help find them. She said: “We are sick with worry.