United Nations Secretary- General Kofi Annan on Saturday expressed his sadness over the casualties and destruction caused by a powerful earthquake which struck Indonesia.

"The secretary-general is deeply saddened by the loss of life, the hundreds of injuries and the destruction suffered by the people of Indonesia after the earthquake that struck Yogyakarta on the southern coast of Java," UN spokesman Stephanie Dujarric said in a statement.

"He extends his deepest condolences to the families of those who have been killed or injured in the earthquake," Dujarric said.

"United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination teams have been alerted and stand ready to lend their assistance to efforts to respond to humanitarian needs created by the disaster and to mobilize international support for that response as required," the spokesman added.

The 6.3-magnitude earthquake rocked the ancient city of Yogyakarta on Java island early Saturday morning, leaving more than 3,000 people dead and flattening many houses.

Source: Xinhua