Desperate relatives searched rubble for survivors after the powerful earthquake flattened nearly all the buildings in a rice-farming town while residents slept, on Indonesia's densely populated Java island.

The quake wounded thousands more and is the nation's worst disaster since the 2004 tsunami. It also triggered fears that a rumbling volcano nearby would erupt. Indonesian officials say that more than 200,000 have lost their homes in what was the third major quake to hit the impoverished Indian Ocean archipelago in 18 months.

Battered and numbed survivors are now stretching the region's medical services to extreme limits. Local hospitals and services have been overwhelmed by the thousands of casualties.

There is a desperate need to mobilise resources to assist those who have been injured, those in need of shelter, and children who have lost family members.

One charity organisation, Muslim Hands has sent emergency teams to Indonesia in order to provide survivors of the earthquake with essential food supplies and medical care. Forward Teams from Acheh, Medan and Jakarta have been in affected areas since 28th May and immediately began aid distribution in Bantul, the most severely affected area.

Distribution of aid has begun Distributed throughout the United Kingdom to surrounding areas, including blankets, lanterns and electricity generators for medical clinics. Taofiq Hidayat, MH Team Leader in the area comments:

"The conditions of the survivors is still very bad and the worst is still to come due to the imminent rainy season."

Muslim Hands has launched an emergency appeal to help victims of Indonesia earthquake disaster.