At least 10 people were killed and hundreds of others injured after an earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale shook the Indonesian province of Yogyakarta and several parts of Central Java early on Saturday.

The earthquake also left many houses and government office buildings into ruins in the city, Antara news agency reported.

Meanwhile, injured people began trickling into local hospitals while hundreds of patients were seen lying helplessly on the roadsides.

Bethesda Hospital spokesman Suginato confirmed at least 10 fatalities and hundreds of injured people have been sent to the hospital.

Volcanological Research and Technological Development Agency ( BPPTK) chief Purbo said the earthquake was triggered by the friction of earth layer and not by the coughing Merapi volcano near Yogyakarta.

However, the quake was feared to trigger more active volcanic activity of Merapi because when the earthquake occurred, Merapi spewed massive clouds of hot gas into the air.

The earthquake, which hit at 5:50 a.m. local time (2250 GMT, Friday) destroyed a number of infrastructures including houses, office buildings, a sport stadium and even caused the Adi Sucipto airport in Yogyakarta to suspend a number of flights.

Telecommunication network and electricity supply in Yogyakarta were cut off due to the earthquake, which is recorded at the fifth level of Modified Marcelli Intensity (MMI).

Source: Xinhua