Help the people affected by the Java
earthquake
At dawn on 27 May an earthquake measuring
6.2 on the Richter scale struck Indonesia's main island of Java. More than
3,000 people have been confirmed dead around the city of Yogyakarta according
to figures released by the Social Affairs Ministry disaster taskforce late
Saturday night.
Bantul town, about 25 km (15 miles) south of Yogyakarta city, was hit hardest, possibly accounting for around 2,000 of the dead. The epicentre of the quake, which struck just before 6:00 am local time, was offshore.
In the outskirts of Yogyakarta, telephone services were erratic and many houses were razed. Electricity had not resumed by nightfall. Yogyakarta's airport has been shut because of a damaged runway.
As night fell, terrified residents huddled outside their ruined houses or in the grounds of mosques, churches and schools. No tsunami came but people were afraid throughout the night and others fled for higher ground.
The Indonesian Vice President Yusuf Kalla says that between 10,000 and 20,000 people have been injured in the quake.
AUSTCARE is already responding to the immediate needs of the survivors of the earthquake.
In partnership with Australian Aid International (AAI), a Disaster Assessment and Response Team with medical response capability is departing tomorrow for Yogyakarta. The head of the team is already in Yogyakarta and liaising with humanitarian and government agencies on the ground to make an initial assessment.
AUSTCARE's emergency response will include providing emergency medical assistance and meeting other needs of displaced survivors.
Any excess funds from the AUSTCARE Java Earthquake Appeal will be dedicated to our Emergency Fund, which enables us to respond immediately to future emergencies.