3,000+ killed
YOGYAKARTA (AP): A 6.2 magnitude earthquake rocked Indonesia's Central Java province early Saturday, flattening buildings and killing at least 2,500 people, hospitals reported. Scores of other people were injured.
The quake's epicenter was close to the Mount Merapi volcano, which has been rumbling for weeks and sending out large clouds of hot gas and ash. Activity increased as a result of the tremblor, with one eruption coming soon after the volcano sent debris some 3.5 kilometers (2 miles) down its western flank, said Subandrio, a vulcanologist monitoring the peak.
"The quake has disturbed the mountain," he said.
HELP INDONESIA
In the wake of the Yogya quake, if you can, please link to Indonesia Help ~ the site Enda Nasution set up after the Aceh Tsunami. As before, there are a host of links to aid centres as well as news and views of the latest disaster to befall Indonesia.
Detik.com for internet updates in Indonesian.
BBC for internet updates in English, eye witness accounts and the map above.
Bugger Blogger
I've had major problems with Blogger who 'lost' Jakartass for nigh on 24 hours. I wanted to be more active in reporting/commenting on the quake; it would seem that other local bloggers had similar, related problems.
Being dependent on just one access to hyperspace carries obvious dangers in that our freedom to communicate is limited.
Thanks for bearing with me in the interim, and thanks to the Reveller for his help.
