Indonesian earthquake death toll rises

International relief poured into Indonesia’s earthquake disaster zone today, but for many of the estimated 647,000 displaced people, aid was not arriving quickly enough and healthcare remained patchy.

Thousands of women and children lined roads clogged with relief vehicles and curious onlookers, asking motorists for money so they could buy food.

Some stood next to a banner that said: “Don’t just look. Help.”

The death toll from Saturday’s 6.3-magnitude quake on Java island rose to 6,234 after officials found 388 more bodies, Social Affairs Ministry spokesman Juswadi said today.

At least 30,000 were injured.

The main hospital in hardest-hit Bantul district remained overwhelmed, with patients cramming corridors or sleeping on pieces of cardboard in the car park, and doctors complained of a lack of supplies.

The United Nations said the crisis appeared to be easing with the arrival of aid workers from more than 20 countries, and Indonesia’s president said he had enough confidence in the relief efforts to return to the capital, Jakarta.