Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday offered his condolences to his Indonesia counterpart Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono over an earthquake which has killed at least 2,700 people on the island of Java, the presidential press service said.

"It was with sincere compassion and regret that I found out about the serious natural disaster that afflicted your country, the earthquake on Java which claimed many victims," Putin said in a telegram of condolences.

"I ask that you transmit my sincere condolences to the families of the victims and my sympathy to the injured," Putin said.

Putin said Russia was ready to provide help in dealing with the consequences of the disaster. "I confirm our solidarity and our readiness to be of assistance in overcoming the consequences of this natural disaster."

A powerful earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale rocked Indonesia's province of Yogyakarta and several parts of Central Java at 05.53 a.m. local time on Saturday morning (2253 GMT, Friday).

The death toll from the earthquake has exceeded 2,700, according to latest reports of the Social Affairs Ministry.

Source: Xinhua