Sumatra toll hits 1,100 

Source: ReutersA collapsed house in earthquake hit Padang, on Indonesia's Sumatra island

At least to 1,100 people have died in Wednesday's major earthquake in Indonesia and officials expect the toll to rise further.

The BBC is quoting the United Nations' humanitarian chief John Holmes as saying the toll in Padang, on Sumatra island has passed 1,000 and is likely to worsen.

"Obviously many hundreds of injured people as well and again these numbers I fear will rise as more information becomes available," he says.

Rescue teams are struggling to reach scores of people trapped under debris, as survivors plead for aid.

The 7.6 magnitude quake struck the bustling port city of 900,000 people on Wednesday, toppling hundreds of buildings.

Telephone connections are patchy, making it hard for officials to work out the extent of destruction and loss of life.

"I have been through quakes here before and this was the worst. There is blood everywhere, people with their limbs cut off. We saw buildings collapsed, people dying," says American Greg Hunt from Padang airport.

A reporter in the city says rescuers are pulling people from buildings, but there is little sign of much aid being distributed yet.

Fuel is also in short supply and there was a report of looting, while some shops have run out of food.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has visited some of the worst hit areas, and has told reporters the country could co-ordinate the relief efforts but welcomes help from abroad.

A 6.6 magnitude quake hit another part of Sumatra on Thursday, causing fresh panic but no known deaths.