Britain offers help to quake-hit Indonesia

Britain on Saturday joined nations around the world in extending condolences to Indonesia, hit by a devastating earthquake.

Britain on Saturday joined nations around the world in extending condolences to Indonesia, hit by a devastating earthquake that left more than 2,700 dead on the island of Java.

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"I was deeply saddened to learn of the earthquake which struck near Yogyakarta in central Java early this morning," said British foreign office minister Kim Howells in a statement.

"Our thoughts are with the Indonesian people at this tragic time and particularly with those whose lives have been directly affected by the earthquake," she said, adding that Britain has offered help to the Indonesian government.

Howells also said London has sent a team from the British Embassy in Jakarta to the scene of the quake to check whether any British nationals have been affected by the disaster. So far there are no reports of British casualties.

An Indonesian official at the social affairs ministry's disaster relief centre said at least 2,727 fatalities had been reported in Yogyakarta and Central Java provinces.

At least 1,500 others were being treated at hospital, officials said.