At least 10 killed in Yogyakarta earthquake

Jakarta, Antara -- At least 10 people were killed and hundreds of others were injured after an earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale shook Indonesian province of Yogyakarta and several parts of Central Java early on Saturday.

ANTARA News in Yogyakarta reported the earthquake left many houses and government office buildings into ruins in the city.

Meanwhile, injured people begin trickling into the Rahma Husada and Bethesda hospitals while hundreds of patients were seen lying helplessly on the roadsides.

Bethesda Hospital spokesman Suginato said at least 10 fatalities and hundreds of injured people have been sent to the hospital.

Volcanological Research and Technological Development Agency (BPPTK) chief Purbo said the earthquake was triggered by the friction of earth layer and not by the coughing Merapi volcano.

However, the quake was feared to trigger the volcanic activity of Merapi because when the earthquake occured, Merapi spewed massive clouds of hot gas into the air.

The earthquake which occured at 5.50 a.m. local time destroyed a number of infrastructures including houses, office buidlings, a sport stadium and even caused the Adi Sucipto airport in Yogyakarta to suspend a number of flights.

Telecommunication network and electricity supply in Yogyakarta were cut off due to the earthquake, which is recorded at the fifth level of Modified Marcelli Intensity (MMI).(*)