This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8288186.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Aid flows in to quake-hit Sumatra World joins Sumatra quake rescue
(about 6 hours later)
International aid is starting to arrive in Sumatra following an appeal by the Indonesian government in the aftermath of Wednesday's powerful earthquake. International aid is starting to arrive in Sumatra as concern grows that remote areas may have been devastated by Wednesday's powerful earthquake.
British, Australian and South Korean rescuers have arrived and the EU and Russia are also sending help.
More than 1,000 people are known to have died and up to 3,000 more are believed trapped beneath collapsed buildings in the city of Padang.More than 1,000 people are known to have died and up to 3,000 more are believed trapped beneath collapsed buildings in the city of Padang.
Widespread destruction has also been reported in surrounding areas.Widespread destruction has also been reported in surrounding areas.
Australia, Russia, the UK and the EU are among those sending emergency supplies, medics and rescue teams. Red Cross officials say remote village areas outside Padang appear to suffered severe and widespread damage, and in some cases have been completely destroyed.
Witnesses in Padang report a stench of decomposing bodies hanging over collapsed buildings as rescuers battle to reach survivors. We have not received a thing. We need food, clothes, blankets, milk. It seems like the government has forgotten us Siti ArmainiEarthquake survivor
"We also need drinking water and clothes because many people's clothes were burnt in fires," one Red Cross worker, Testos, told Reuters news agency.
"We also need medicines to stop infection."
But access to these areas remains difficult, and few details are known yet of the extent of the destruction or the loss of life.
Local TV stations have begun to reach some of the affected areas, broadcasting images of villages reduced to rubble and tales of villagers without access to clean water.
"We have not received a thing. We need food, clothes, blankets, milk. It seems like the government has forgotten about us," Reuters quoted one woman, Siti Armaini, as saying in Pariaman, 40km (25 miles) north of Padang.
Hope dwindles
In Padang, witnesses report that the stench of decomposing bodies now hangs over collapsed buildings as rescuers battle to reach survivors.
Many buildings in Padang simply could not withstand the shaking
Food shortages are being reported in areas where the earthquake has damaged roads, while people who lost their homes are said to be sleeping in the streets.Food shortages are being reported in areas where the earthquake has damaged roads, while people who lost their homes are said to be sleeping in the streets.
The BBC's Karishma Vaswani, in Padang, said that the Red Cross planned to hold a meeting in the city on Saturday to co-ordinate relief efforts. At the collapsed wreckage of a hotel, rescuers were working frantically throughout Saturday to find any of eight people thought to have survived Wednesday's earthquake.
Its priority was to ensure injured survivors received the medical attention they needed, she adds. One person trapped in the ruins of the Ambacang Hotel sent a text message to a relative on Friday asking for help, rescuers revealed.
Disaster zone The text message reportedly implored rescuers: "Be careful that the excavator doesn't cause the building to collapse on us."
Despite a lack of heavy lifting equipment, rescuers are still pulling survivors from the rubble. Those trapped are believed to be on what was the 6th floor and rescue teams have been building a tunnel through the rubble to reach them.
Ratna Kurnia Sari, 19, was rescued badly injured but alive from the rubble of her college in Padang 40 hours after the earthquake struck. But by mid-afternoon in Padang none of the eight had been located.
Hundreds of buildings in Padang collapsed when the quake struck The BBC's Alastair Leithead, who is in Padang, says that as the hours pass, the rescue operation is turning into the recovery of bodies.
"Her dead friends were beneath and above her," said Dr Dubel Mereyenes, who was treating her. International efforts
Another survivor trapped beneath a ruined hotel in Padang sent a text message to a relative asking for help, rescuers revealed. Specialist teams from around the world have begun arriving at co-ordination centres in Padang, waiting to be deployed to the field.
"We think there are eight people alive in there," Reuters news agency quoted army officer Arkamelvi Karmani as saying. The Red Cross planned to hold a meeting in the city on Saturday to co-ordinate relief efforts.
He said the text message implored rescuers: "Be careful that the excavator doesn't cause the building to collapse on us." The priority is to ensure injured survivors receive the medical attention they needed, Red Cross officials say.
Those trapped are believed to be on what was the 6th floor and rescue teams are building a tunnel through the rubble to reach them. Two Australian planes carrying medical personnel and rescue experts have arrived in Padang, with dozens of British firefighters due to join a 16-man deployment late on Saturday.
But the BBC's Alastair Leithead, who is in Padang, says that as the hours pass, the rescue operation is turning into the recovery of bodies.
Two Australian planes carrying medical personnel and rescue experts have arrived in Padang, and dozens of British firefighters are due there late on Saturday.
A Swiss sniffer-dog team is already on the ground, and Russian, Estonian and Japanese personnel have all been sent. Countries around the world have pledged relief funds.A Swiss sniffer-dog team is already on the ground, and Russian, Estonian and Japanese personnel have all been sent. Countries around the world have pledged relief funds.
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has also called for $10m (£6.2m) in government aid to be distributed quickly.Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has also called for $10m (£6.2m) in government aid to be distributed quickly.
"The... fund has to flow quickly, no more bureaucracy for this," he said. "This is an emergency, so speed is crucial.""The... fund has to flow quickly, no more bureaucracy for this," he said. "This is an emergency, so speed is crucial."
The Red Cross in Geneva said aerial photos suggested the disaster zone was wider than previously thought, stretching across western Sumatra. Wednesday's 7.6-magnitude quake struck off the coast of Padang and caused devastation. A second quake of 6.8 struck nearby on Thursday causing panic but no reports of damage or casualties.
"The feedback is that Padang city and environs are bad, but once you go into the surrounding rural areas, the situation is very grave," said spokesman Christine South.
"There was talk of complete devastation of some villages - 100% devastation - and 50% in others."
Wednesday's 7.6 magnitude quake struck off the coast of Padang and caused devastation. A second quake of 6.8 struck nearby on Thursday causing panic but no reports of damage or casualties.
Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the earthquake? Send us your experiences using the form below:Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the earthquake? Send us your experiences using the form below:
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & ConditionsThe BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions