Govt donates cash for Java quake victims

The Government today donated €500,000 to help relief efforts in the wake of the devastating earthquake in Indonesia.

More than 2,700 people were killed and thousands more were injured when the quake struck the island of Java early in the morning.

The quake, measuring 6.2, flattened buildings in a densely-populated area south of the city of Yogyakarta. The number of dead is expected to rise as rescue teams and the military begin to sift through the rubble.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said €500,000 would be provided from its emergency humanitarian fund to the Red Cross, which is preparing to carry out relief operations on the devastated island.

Yogyakarta is Indonesia’s ancient royal capital and one of its biggest cities, is about 440 kilometres (273 miles) south-east of the capital, Jakarta.

According to the US Geological Survey, the quake hit at 5.54am local time (11.53pm Irish time) yesterday, around 25 kilometres (15 miles) south of the city of Yogyakarta.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Conor Lenihan said some of the €500,000 would be given to Red Crescent, and the other humanitarian agencies that were ready to assist in the immediate relief effort.

“We will of course keep monitoring the situation, and be ready to assist further if required. As yet it is unclear if any Irish people are missing or have been injured,” he said.