Java earthquake kills more than 1,000

Bangkok, May 27 (UNI) At least 1,000 people were killed and thousands hurt by an earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale, which struck Indonesia's main island of Java early today.

It epicentered in the Indian Ocean, about 30 km southwest of the Yogyakarta.

Reports from Jakarta said local hospitals had reported nearly 200 dead by mid-day and another 100 people killed in a nearby district.

Officials in Thailand said the earthquake had no effect on the country's southern coastal areas and ruled out fears of a tsunami.

Reuters adds: The Antara news agency quoted Yogyakarta's police chief as giving a total death toll of over 1,400.

Meanwhile Kinta, an official from the Social Ministry, told Elshinta news radio: ''For the time being we recorded the total as 1,325 people.'' She said the figure did not include people still buried or trapped under rubble of collapsed buildings.

Yogyakarta is on Indonesia's main island of Java and near Mount Merapi, a volcano that has been on top alert for a major eruption this month.

A vulcanologist in Yogyakarta said the quake was tectonic and not caused by the volcano, but the quake's impact could increase Merapi's activity.

Yogyakarta is about 25 km north of the Indian Ocean coast and 440 km east of Jakarta.

The victims had generally suffered head injuries and broken bones from collapsing buildings.

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