Indonesia aid effort gathers pace

About 80% of buildings in Nias' main town were damaged

Residents on an Indonesian island are facing a critical situation following Monday night's earthquake that killed about 1,000 people, aid officials say.

UN assessment teams on Nias, off Sumatra, found large numbers of dead.

Shocked people are combing the wreckage in the island's main city of Gunung Sitoli, most of which has been ruined, reports the BBC's Kylie Morris.

The quake caused panic across the Indian Ocean region, still reeling from December's devastating tsunami.

An estimated 300,000 people were killed in the tsunami disaster - two-thirds of them in Indonesia.

See where the two quakes hit

There was already a large international aid presence in the region following that disaster, and the BBC's Rachel Harvey in Aceh province - the region worst-hit in December - says lessons appear to have been learned.

The people of Indonesia can know as well that they have our prayers, and that our government is ready to assist George W Bush Thousands flee coastal areas How earthquakes happen In pictures: Sumatra quake

Two Indonesian naval vessels are on their way to the area, and food, tents and other basic supplies are being made ready for transit.

Australia is sending two transport aircraft and has diverted one of its navy ships from Singapore to help with relief.

Singapore has sent helicopters and relief workers and Japan has offered troops to help rescue those trapped.

US President George W Bush said his government was ready to help, with officials already in the region moving to offer assistance.

A field hospital is being prepared on Sumatra to treat the injured - but poor weather has affected flights taking the injured.

Emergency supplies

The islands of Nias and Simeulue bore the brunt of the quake, which happened about 160km (100 miles) from the epicentre of the quake that caused December's tsunami.

Unconfirmed Indonesian reports suggest up to 300 people died on the Banyak island group.

In Gunung Sitoli, multi-storey buildings have collapsed and clusters of people stand on top of what is left, our correspondent says.

Nuns at a monastery complained of a lack of almost everything - from food and water to doctors to treat the wounded, says our correspondent who has been stopped by people with gaping wounds to their heads pleading for medicine and water.

"The water system has failed completely and huge holes have been made in the roads," said Alessandra Villas-Boas of aid agency Oxfam.

Ninety seconds is a very long time in an earthquake Gareth A Richards Kuala Lumpur resident Your comments

The aid agency says at least 20,000 people have been affected by the quake.

The only airstrip has reportedly been damaged, making the delivery of supplies even more difficult. And once on the ground, roads and bridges have been damaged and fuel supplies are running out.

However, the situation on Simeulue seemed less severe than initially feared, with only three confirmed deaths and around 40 injured.

The airport there was found to be intact and medical care was being provided to victims.

Click here to return