Associated Press

Yogyakarta (Indonesia), May 27: A powerful earthquake flattened buildings in central Indonesia early Saturday, killing at least 2,500 people, wounding thousands and leaving overwhelmed doctors begging for help, officials said.

The magnitude 6.2 quake struck at 0600 hrs local time (2300 hrs GMT) near the ancient city of Yogyakarta as many people slept, causing death and damage there and in many nearby towns.

Roads and bridges were destroyed, hindering efforts to get the wounded to hospitals. Some phone lines also were cut.

The epicentre was 25 km southwest of the city and near the erupting volcano Mount Merapi.

Scientists believe the quake could affect volcanic activity.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ordered the army to help evacuate victims, as panicked residents ran into the smoldering streets, many clutching young children.

He said he would head to the disaster zone in Central Java province later Saturday.

Nine hours after the quake struck, the number of dead stood at around 2,500 with nearly 2,900 others injured, said Arifin Muhadi, head of the Red Cross' disaster division, adding that "the numbers just keep rising."

Police and other government officials had similar tolls.

Doctors struggled to care for the injured, hundreds of whom were lying on plastic sheets, straw mats and even newspapers outside the overcrowded hospitals, some hooked to intravenous drips dangling from trees.

"We need help here," said Kusmarwanto of Bantul Muhammadiyah Hospital, the closest hospital to the quake's epicenter, adding that his hospital alone had 39 bodies and that numbers there were rising.

At nearby Dr Sardjito Hospital, health officials tallied 60 dead, but more bodies were lined up in the hallway and some family members were taking them home before they could be added to the official toll.

"We have hundreds of injured people, our emergency care unit is overwhelmed," said Heru Nugroho.

Two-story homes, hotels and government buildings were badly destroyed, some flattened.

The quake cracked the runway at the airport in Yogyakarta, home to the famed Boroburdur temple, closing it to aircraft until at least Sunday while inspections take place, Transport Minister Hatta Radjasa said.