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Indonesia quake search stepped up Indonesia quake search stepped up
(about 7 hours later)
Rescuers in Indonesia are searching the rubble of collapsed buildings for survivors after a powerful earthquake, with the toll expected to rise.Rescuers in Indonesia are searching the rubble of collapsed buildings for survivors after a powerful earthquake, with the toll expected to rise.
At least 44 people are confirmed dead and thousands of homes ruined after the 7.0-magnitude quake hit on Wednesday. At least 49 people are confirmed dead and thousands of homes ruined after the 7.0-magnitude quake hit on Wednesday.
More than 300 people have been injured and dozens are still missing. More than 100 people are in hospital and dozens are still missing.
Indonesian officials say heavy rescue equipment has arrived in the Javanese city of Cianjur, where many people are feared buried by a landslide. Damaged roads and poor weather are hampering efforts to get heavy rescue equipment to the worst-hit areas in the West Javan district of Cianjur.
Elsewhere, police, military personnel and villagers are using their bare hands to try to reach survivors buried in the rubble. At least 40 people remained missing in the village of Cikangkareng after a landslide buried a row of homes.
Police, military personnel and villagers are using their bare hands to try to reach survivors buried in the rubble.
"You can't see the roofs at all, everything is completely buried," Priyadi Kardono, spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, said.
"The chances of anyone surviving is very, very small."
Desperate searchDesperate search
Thousands of buildings have collapsed in Cianjur, about 100km (62 miles) south of Jakarta, and the nearby town of Tasikmalaya. More than 18,000 homes across West Java province have been damaged, about 9,000 seriously, Mr Kardono said.
Priyadi Kardono, spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, said the toll could "change significantly" given the scale of damage, reports Reuters news agency. At least 110 people have been hospitalised with 10 in a critical condition, he added.
"We are still searching for the survivors who might be buried under their houses or buildings," another disaster management agency employee, Maman Susanto, told AFP news agency. Indonesian television showed people being treated in temporary tents, while others were being attended to outside in hospital grounds.
"About 18,000 houses and buildings have been damaged," he said. Garut and Tasikmalaya districts, along with Cianjur, about 100km (62 miles) south of Jakarta, were among the worst hit.
Rescue efforts are being hampered as several roads have been badly damaged, the BBC's Karishma Vaswani reports from the area. Food and water packages have arrived in some districts but some remote villages are yet to receive any assistance, the BBC's Karishma Vaswani reports from the area.
As a result, heavy digging equipment has not reached the hardest-hit villages, she adds. FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE class="" href="http://bbc.co.uk/worldservice/index.shtml">More from BBC World Service
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is due to visit the area later on Thursday. Rescue efforts are being hampered as several roads have been badly damaged and it has begun to rain. As a result, heavy digging equipment has not reached the hardest-hit villages, she adds.
Communications links to settlements on the south coast were broken by the quake, so the extent of damage and casualties is not yet known.Communications links to settlements on the south coast were broken by the quake, so the extent of damage and casualties is not yet known.
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is visiting the area, told our reporter that the government had everything under control and international assistance was not yet necessary.
Fear and uncertaintyFear and uncertainty
About 5,000 people have sought shelter in makeshift tents. "They have taken refuge not only because their houses were ruined, but also because they fear there will be aftershocks," said local official Obar Sobarna.
In pictures: Indonesia earthquake 'The whole building was shaking'In pictures: Indonesia earthquake 'The whole building was shaking'
About 5,000 people have reportedly sought shelter in makeshift tents. "They have taken refuge not only because their houses were ruined, but also because they fear there will be aftershocks," said local official Obar Sobarna.
The quake epicentre was about 115km off the south coast of Java, near Tasikmalaya.The quake epicentre was about 115km off the south coast of Java, near Tasikmalaya.
Mudslides have inundated homes, collapsed rooftops and damaged properties in Tasikmalaya, including the mayor's home and a mosque. Mudslides inundated homes, collapsed rooftops and damaged properties in Tasikmalaya, including the mayor's home and a mosque.
The tremors were felt in the capital, Jakarta, 200km to the north, where hundreds fled into the streets from offices and shops.The tremors were felt in the capital, Jakarta, 200km to the north, where hundreds fled into the streets from offices and shops.
A local tsunami alert was issued but revoked shortly afterwards.A local tsunami alert was issued but revoked shortly afterwards.
The quake was also felt 500km away from its epicentre in Surabaya, Indonesia's second-largest city, and on the resort island of Bali.The quake was also felt 500km away from its epicentre in Surabaya, Indonesia's second-largest city, and on the resort island of Bali.
In December 2004, an earthquake off the coast of Sumatra in Indonesia triggered a tsunami that killed more than 200,000 people around Asia.In December 2004, an earthquake off the coast of Sumatra in Indonesia triggered a tsunami that killed more than 200,000 people around Asia.
Our correspondent says memories of the 2004 disaster are still fresh in the minds of people.Our correspondent says memories of the 2004 disaster are still fresh in the minds of people.
She says the Indonesian government has implemented an early warning system for tsunamis since then, but it is not fully operational yet.She says the Indonesian government has implemented an early warning system for tsunamis since then, but it is not fully operational yet.
Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the most active areas for earthquakes and volcanic activity in the world.Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the most active areas for earthquakes and volcanic activity in the world.


Are you in or near Java? Did you feel the earthquake? Send us your stories using the form below.Are you in or near Java? Did you feel the earthquake? Send us your stories using the form below.
Send your pictures or video of the earthquake to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures or video of the earthquake to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.
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