International Relief Makes Its Way to Indonesia

The numbers rapidly changed, from 38 dead in the first earthquake report from Yogyakarta in the early hours of Saturday to 4,600 Sunday evening. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono arrived in the ancient city of Yogyakarta Saturday evening, visiting makeshift hospitals, evacuation centers and overseeing coordination with Central Java officials.

The president expressed condolences to all victims and relatives and ordered the army to help evacuate victims and all parties to prioritize the evacuation care of earthquake victims.

"The system has begun to work and in my communication with the governor of Yogyakarta, I requested the sultan to use all of the region's potential to aid in the catastrophe," Bambang Yudhoyono said.

The earthquake struck at dawn, creating panic in the densely populated university city of Yogyakarta, known for its cultural heritage. Countless victims were buried alive. The Indonesian Red Cross said the earthquake had made more than 200,000 people homeless. Emergency rescue and medical crews rushed to Bantul, a district south of Yogyakarta, where two-thirds of the fatalities occurred.

"We sent out 10 medical teams this morning to the most affected areas, Bantul Klaten and Progo," said Aulia Ariani, Indonesian Red Cross spokeswoman, on Saturday.

She said all four hospitals were packed when she arrived in Bantul the same day, and at least 400 volunteers were helping out in tents set up to aid injured people still coming in through Sunday. More were expected, as many still were trapped under the rubble. A call for medical assistance was sent out.

Quick response from abroad

Response was swift from all over the world. Humedika, Germany's emergency medical aid agency, sent out a team that same evening, according to Markus Köhler, one of the organization's 650 doctors on call.

Local and international medical teams, emergency response teams and NGOs who were on standby for the eruption of Mount Merapi have been aiding and evacuating people, since Yogyakarta's international airport was partially opened again for aid and rescue traffic. Around 1,400 meters of the badly damaged runway had to first be repaired and made ready for use by Hercules transport planes. The airport was expected to be in full operation by Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, the European Commission, the EU's executive body, said it would release up to 3 million euros ($3.8 million) in emergency aid. Germany pledged 500,000 euros for immediate aid. Britain, Ireland and Greece also announced they would back the relief effort with aid packages. Spain, France, Russia and several other countries have stated willingness to respond to any request for help from the Indonesian authorities. The Italian government decided to fly in emergency humanitarian aid, while Norway announced sending an emergency medical team.

The Turkish Red Crescent; which since the tsunami in 2004 has a base in the province of Aceh, has flown into Central Java to assist local crisis centers and do post-quake needs assessment. From Indonesia's ASEAN neighbors, Singapore has promised $50,000 as emergency response. Along with its 56 strong Search and Rescue Team, Malaysia is sending five trained dogs to assist in the search for survivors. Both countries have sent in medical aid and paramedics.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where the meeting of continental plates causes high volcanic and seismic activity.