Vatican City, 2 October (AKI) - The Vatican's number two, Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone sent a telegram on behalf of Pope Benedict XVI to the Vatican's envoy in Indonesia, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli after the earthquakes that struck the country in recent days. Over 1,000 people have been killed and vast areas of Sumatra island have been destroyed by the quakes.

"Deeply saddened to learn of the recent devastating earthquakes affecting Indonesia, His Holiness Benedict XVI prays for the victims and their grieving families, invoking eternal rest upon the deceased and divine strength and consolation on all who are suffering," the telegram read.

"His Holiness likewise encourages the rescue workers, and all involved in providing emergency assistance to the victims of this disaster, to persevere in their efforts to bring relief, comfort and support".

Meanwhile, Indonesians on Friday continued search under the rubble for survivors and to retrieve bodies, as relief teams began to reach the quake-hit areas.

The death toll from the major earthquake that jolted West Sumatra on Wednesday has reached 1,100, according to the United Nations. Officials expect the number to climb.

The devastating earthquake on Wednesday measured 7.6 on the Richter scale and has its epicentre about 50 kilometres off the coast of Sumatra. Aftershocks and tremors have continued to rattle the earthquake-prone area.

The quakes in Indonesia were along the same fault line that triggered the 2004 Asian tsunami which killed more than 230,000 people in a dozen countries. Most of the victims were in the Indonesian province of Aceh, West Sumatra.