Clean up begins after Indonesian earthquake

Relief efforts are continuing in Indonesia following Saturday's earthquake.

On 27th May an earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale occurred near the ancient city of Yogyakarta, causing substantial damage and loss of life, as well as severely disrupting tourism in the region.

The official death toll now exceeds 5,000 and is expected to rise further as clean-up operations get underway. Some 25,000 homes have been destroyed and extensive damage is reported to the region's infrastructure.

Some flights began operating out of Yogyakarta today (30th May) although the limited service is focusing on aid rather than tourism.

The UN's World Food Programme has already flown in 40 tonnes of aid, with more to follow as the airport's capacity returns to normal and aid supplies arrive from foreign donors.

Over 20 countries have now given or promised aid to Indonesia, with Jan Egeland, the UN's top relief co-ordinator, describing the task ahead of the aid workers as "enormous", the BBC reports.