MOSCOW, October 1 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday offered aid to Indonesia after devastating earthquakes left hundreds dead in the archipelago.
Western Indonesia has suffered two major quakes in two days. On Wednesday, a quake with a magnitude of 7.6 struck the city of Padang, leaving at least 200 dead.
On Thursday morning, a second quake measuring 6.9 rocked Sumatra island located some 180 kilometers from yesterday's quake.
Both earthquakes are estimated to have killed well over 500 people and the death toll could reach into the thousands.
"We will be prepared to give the necessary aid in the aftermath of the misfortune that struck your country," a telegram from Medvedev to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said.
Medvedev also sent his condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost loved ones.
Part of the Pacific's Ring of Fire, Indonesia is in the world's most seismically active region, registering 6,000-7,000 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.0 or above annually.
On Wednesday, an earthquake thousands of kilometers to the west caused several tsunamis, which hit the Pacific island nations of American and Western Samoa, and Tonga killing hundreds of people.
