10 Feb 2004

Extent of damage and injuries in Papua quake area won't be known for another 24 hours

5:18 pm on 10 February 2004

The death toll from two earthquakes in Indonesia's remote Papua province has risen to 34 and is expected to climb further.

There are unconfirmed reports that 400 may be injured.

Reports out of the isolated town of Nabire, which has been badly hit by the quakes, are still sketchy, with communications down and the roads and local airport, damaged.

The head of the Indonesian Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent says he expects to be briefed later today or tomorrow morning by a team which went into Papua last Saturday.

Hauge Ola says the team has been able to tell him only about the most urgent things needed.

"We know what's needed, non-food items, we're talking about tarpaulins, blankets, clean water, I have heard already."

The head of the Indonesian Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, Hauge Ola.