Indonesia quake toll rises to 4,611

Volunteers from Indonesian political parties and Islamic groups, as well as military vehicles carrying soldiers, headed south from Yogyakarta to Bantul, hardest hit by the quake, to help in the effort.

Medical supplies and body bags were arriving at the airport of Yogyakarta, about 25 km from the Indian Ocean coast where Saturday8217;s 6.3 magnitude quake was centred just offshore.

A volcanologist said the quake had heightened volcanic activity at nearby Mount Merapi, that experts believe may be about to erupt. Merapi has been rumbling for weeks and sporadically emitting lava and toxic hot gas.

8216;8216;The problem now is that we are still short of tents, many people are still living on the streets or open areas,8217;8217; said Suseno, a field officer of the Yogyakarta disaster task force. Clean water was another problem, officials said. In Bantul all 12 water distribution systems had been knocked out .

The international community has rallied to help Indonesia, offering medical relief teams and emergency supplies. Australia and US have pledged to send humanitarian aid worth 2.5 million and 2.2 million respectively. s

In Yogyakarta, ancient heritage sites such as Borobudur, the biggest Buddhist monument on Earth, survived the quake. But the Prambanan Hindu temple complex near the city suffered some damage, a witness said.