Now they have nothing left

Bantul, a semi-rural district just south of the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta, in the heartland of the island of Java where farmers grow rice, corn and chillies, was hardest hit by an earthquake that struck the area on Saturday morning. More than 80 per cent of buildings were flattened.

The total death toll stood at more than 4,600 last night, with up to 20,000 injured and more than 100,000 left homeless.

Budi Wiyana, 63, whose house was destroyed, said: "We're short of everything - clothes, food, water, all are gone. We are poor people, but our lives still matter."