ADB President assures assistance following earthquake in Indonesia

Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Haruhiko Kuroda on Sunday offered ADB's sympathy and assistance following a strong earthquake hit the island of Java, Indonesia on Saturday morning.

"On behalf of the Asian Development Bank, I offer my deepest sympathy and condolences to the people of Indonesia, and to the families of the victims," an ADB report quoted Kuroda as saying.

The ADB is closely monitoring the situation through its resident mission in Jakarta, Kuroda said, assuring the Government of Indonesia of ADB's fullest support and cooperation in rebuilding lives affected by the devastating earthquake near Yogyakarta, central Java.

The ADB can draw on long experience of dealing with disasters, including the recent Asian tsunami, which also hit Indonesia, as well as the South Asia earthquake.

Early reports said that more thatn 3,000 people were killed and thousands more were injuredin the earthquake. There is also extensive damage to the buildings and other infrastructure around the ancient city of Yogyakarta.

Source: Xinhua