Thousands dead in Indonesia

A powerful earthquake flattened buildings in central Indonesia early today, killing at least 2,500 people and injuring thousands more in the country’s worst disaster since the 2004 tsunami.

The magnitude 6.2 quake struck at 5.54am near the ancient city of Yogyakarta as many people slept, causing death and damage in many nearby towns. Roads and bridges were destroyed, hindering efforts to get the wounded to hospitals. Some phone lines also were cut.