Hundreds of injured men, women and children packed the grounds of Sardjito Hospital in this historic city Saturday, stretched out on pieces of bloody cardboard as cries of agony pierced the evening air. Several relatives read the Quran to victims as they anxiously awaited treatment. But the staff was stretched to its limits by a powerful earthquake that killed at least 3,500 people and injured thousands when it struck central Java island. "We are running out of surgeons, we need help," said Dr. Alexander, who like many Indonesians uses only one name. He said many patients could die of internal bleeding and other injuries if they did not receive treatment quickly. Heru Nugroho, an official at the hospital, said: "We are in a panic to accommodate hundreds of injured people, and our emergency care is overwhelmed. We are using the parking area to provide medical treatment ... and dead bodies lie in the hospital's corridors."
Damage could be seen across Yogyakarta, a central Indonesian city of 1 million people that is home to ancient temples and other historic landmarks. Many people refused to re-enter their houses, fearing aftershocks. Exhausted and distraught, they slept outdoors in front yards and fields.