Padang, W Sumatra,     - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday afternoon instructed rescue workers here on Thursday to focus on the evacuation of quake survivors.

"Rescue workers should continue to make evacuation effort, especially for survivors who are trapped in the rubble of collapsed houses and buildings," the president said as he inspected the quake-hit area.

On Thursday afternoon, the head of state inspected The Ambacang Hotel in Padang which was flattened by a magnitude-7.6 earthquake on Wednesday.

The president said rescue workers, National Defense Forces (TNI) personnel, National Police (Polri) personnel, and other related parties were involved in the evacuation efforts.

People who thronged the quake-hit areas were asked by the president not to disturb the evacuation activities.

As of Thursday evening, data from Field Coordination Unit (Satkorlak) indicated that the death toll of Wednesday's devastating earthquake has reached 364 and thousands others were heavily wounded.

At a meeting held at the West Sumatra governor's residence to handle the impact of the quake, Padang Mayor Fauzi Bahar and West Sumatra Governor Gamawan Fauzi reported the conditions in the aftermath of the magnitude 7.6 earthquake to the President.

Also present at the meeting were Military Chief Gen Djoko Santoso, Police Chief Gen Bambang Hendarso Danuri, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie, Home Affairs Minister Mardiyanto, Transportation Minister Jusman Syafei Djamal, Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto, Industry Minister Fahmi Idris, Minister/State Secretary Hatta Rajasa and Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi.

Yudhoyono asked the president director of state electricity company PT PLN to step in to coordinate efforts to repair electricity networks damaged in the quake. Many areas have seen blackouts since the quake devastated the province on Wednesday evening.

"I also ask (state oil and gas company Pertamina) to ensure that fuel oil stocks are safe so that the community will not panick," he said.

The Padang mayor said since Thursday morning Pertamina had twice replenished its fuel oil stocks for Padang city.

The President said the government had disbursed emergency response funds worth Rp100 billion which could be directly used to finance two-month long emergency response programs.

-Antara, 02 october 2009-