Earthquake kills thousands in Indonesia
{{date|May 27, 2006}}
[[Image:Indonesian_earthquake.png|thumb|300px|Location of earthquake.]]
An [[earthquake]] measuring {{w|Moment magnitude scale|magnitude}} 6.3 struck [[Indonesia]]'s {{w|Yogyakarta}} and {{w|Jawa Tengah|Central Java}} early on Saturday morning, killing at least 5,427 people, and injuring thousands more. Severe damage has been reported in the city of Yogyakarta, with over three thousand buildings having collapsed and electricity and communications links broken. The {{w|U.S. Geological Survey}} (USGS) reports that the quake struck at 5:54 a.m. local time (2254 UTC Friday) and the epicentre was offshore, approximately 25 km (15 miles) southwest of the city.

Nearby {{w|Mount Merapi}}, which has seen increased activity in recent weeks, had emitted a large cloud of purple smoke and {{w|volcanic ash|ash}} shortly before the earthquake, and vulcanologists have confirmed that the earthquake has increased the volcano's activity. Indonesia lies on the {{w|Pacific Ring of Fire}}, a zone containing the boundaries of tectonic plate that encircles the basin of the Pacific Ocean, and is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Hospital efforts were being hampered by {{w|aftershock|aftershocks}}, which the USGS have measured as being up to 4.8 in {{w|Moment magnitude scale|magnitude}}, and currently by a lack of doctors, beds, and medical supplies. The Indonesian Transport Minister Hatta Radjasa has said that the earthquake has damaged the Yogyakarta {{w|airport}} {{w|runway}}, closing it to air traffic until at least Sunday.

Many countries have offered aid to the devastated region, with the [[United Kingdom]] offering three million pounds ($5,600,000 U.S), [[Australia]] offering three million Australian dollars ($2,270,000 U.S) [[China]] offering two million U.S dollars, and the [[United States]], [[European Union]], [[Japan]], and {{w|UNICEF}} offering further immediate aid. The {{w|Red Cross}}, Red Crescent, {{w|OXFAM}} as well as UNICEF have been providing tents and emergency supplies to the victims.

Many residents spent the night outdoors, either afraid to return for fear of more aftershocks, or because they had lost their homes. In the Bantul district, up to 80% of houses were destroyed, leaving  an estimated 150,000 homeless. The Indonesian President, {{w|Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono}}, visited the disaster area and has called in the army to assist in rescue efforts.

==Related news==
*{{wikinews|title=Merapi roars, compulsory evacuation ordered|date=May 13, 2006}}
==External links==
*[http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/usneb6.php#details   Magnitude 6.3 - Java, Indonesia] Earthquake page at the {{w|US Geological Survey}}'s Earthquake Hazards Program.
==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/05/26/indonesia.quake.ap/index.html
|title=Three dead in Indonesia quake
|author=[[Associated Press|AP]]
|pub=CNN
|date=May 26, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyid=2006-05-27T012243Z_01_JAK165392_RTRUKOC_0_UK-QUAKE-INDONESIA.xml&WTmodLoc=NewsArt-C2-AlsoToday-5
|title=At least 15 dead, hundreds injured in Indonesia quake
|author=
|pub=Reuters
|date=May 27, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19276871-23109,00.html
|title=Quake toll climbs over 1000.
|author=
|pub=News.com.au
|date=May 27, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaillgen.asp?fileid=20060527102531&irec=2
|title=Powerful quake rocks central parts of Java, kills over 1,400
|author=|pub=Jakarta Post|date=May 27, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19274391-2,00.html
|title=Quake toll climbs to 2276.
|author=
|pub=News.com.au
|date=May 27, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5022558.stm
|title=Nearly 3,000 dead in Java quake|author=|pub=BBC News Online|date=May 27, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/ap/2006/05/27/ap2777432.html
|title=Update 33: Indonesia Earthquake Kills at Least 2,700
|author=Irwan Firdaus
|pub=Forbes
|date=May 27, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5023084.stm
|title=Britain offers £3m earthquake aid
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=May 27, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19283018-30977,00.html
|title=Quake toll rises sharply
|author=Achmad Sukarsono
|pub=News.com.au
|date=May 28, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2012352
|title=Quake Kills More Than 3,500 in Indonesia
|author=Irawn Firdaus
|pub=ABC news
|date=May 27, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-05/28/content_601866.htm
|title=China to offer US$2m aid to quake-hit Indonesia
|author=
|pub=China Daily
|date=May 27, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/05/27/indonesia.yogyakarta.ap/
|title=Hospitals overflow amid fear, death
|author=
|pub=CNN International
|date=May 27, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/05/27/indonesia.quake/index.html/
|title= Indonesia quake kills more than 3,000
|author=
|pub=CNN International
|date=May 28, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19290284-2,00.html
|title= Australian medics rush to help
|author=
|pub=News.com.au
|date=May 29, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5028500.stm
|title=Aid flow begins for Java victims 
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=May 30, 2006}}

{{publish}}
{{Archive-unreviewed}}

[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Indonesia]]
[[Category:Disasters and accidents]]
[[Category:Earthquakes]]
[[Category:Java]]
[[Category:Yogyakarta]]

[[ca:Gran terratrèmol a l'illa de Java]]
[[de:Schweres Erdbeben auf der indonesischen Insel Java]]
[[fr:Indonésie : tremblement de terre sur l'île de Java]]
[[it:Terremoto in Indonesia, oltre 2700 morti]]
[[ja:インドネシア・ジャワ島中部でM6.2の地震、死者1000人超]]
[[pl:Jawa: Trzęsienie ziemi zabija setki osób]]
[[pt:Terremoto atinge Indonésia e deixa milhares de mortos]]
[[zh:6.3级地震袭击爪哇岛数千人死亡]]
Location of earthquake.
An earthquake measuring magnitude 6.3 struck Indonesia's Jawa Tengah|Central Java early on Saturday morning, killing at least 5,427 people, and injuring thousands more. Severe damage has been reported in the city of Yogyakarta, with over three thousand buildings having collapsed and electricity and communications links broken. The  (USGS) reports that the quake struck at 5:54 a.m. local time (2254 UTC Friday) and the epicentre was offshore, approximately 25 km (15 miles) southwest of the city.

Nearby volcanic ash|ash shortly before the earthquake, and vulcanologists have confirmed that the earthquake has increased the volcano's activity. Indonesia lies on the , a zone containing the boundaries of tectonic plate that encircles the basin of the Pacific Ocean, and is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Hospital efforts were being hampered by aftershocks, which the USGS have measured as being up to 4.8 in magnitude, and currently by a lack of doctors, beds, and medical supplies. The Indonesian Transport Minister Hatta Radjasa has said that the earthquake has damaged the Yogyakarta runway, closing it to air traffic until at least Sunday.

Many countries have offered aid to the devastated region, with the United Kingdom offering three million pounds ($5,600,000 U.S), Australia offering three million Australian dollars ($2,270,000 U.S) China offering two million U.S dollars, and the United States, European Union, Japan, and Red Cross, Red Crescent,  as well as UNICEF have been providing tents and emergency supplies to the victims.

Many residents spent the night outdoors, either afraid to return for fear of more aftershocks, or because they had lost their homes. In the Bantul district, up to 80% of houses were destroyed, leaving  an estimated 150,000 homeless. The Indonesian President, , visited the disaster area and has called in the army to assist in rescue efforts.

ca:Gran terratrèmol a l'illa de Java
de:Schweres Erdbeben auf der indonesischen Insel Java
fr:Indonésie : tremblement de terre sur l'île de Java
it:Terremoto in Indonesia, oltre 2700 morti
ja:インドネシア・ジャワ島中部でM6.2の地震、死者1000人超
pl:Jawa: Trzęsienie ziemi zabija setki osób
Terremoto atinge Indonésia e deixa milhares de mortos
Asia Indonesia Disasters and accidents Earthquakes Java Yogyakarta