Indonesia: schoolchildren take exams in tents

Photo: Indonesia: schoolchildren take exams in tents

Indonesia: schoolchildren take exams in tents

The 6.3-magnitude quake struck central Java island on May 27, killing at least 5,782 people, the Social Ministry said, revising its figure downward from more than 6,200 after determining that some victims had been counted twice and others found alive.

Adding to fears in the quake zone, the nearby Mount Merapi volcano spewed hot lava and clouds of gases dozens of times Monday, triggering fresh alerts from the government that a major eruption may be due.

The quake damaged or destroyed more than 130,000 homes and at least 835 schools, the U.N. children's agency and government officials said.

But on Monday, eighth-grade students from at least 10 damaged schools held end-of-year exams in tents, the agency said.

Volunteers sang songs with around 35 kindergarten students and gave them drawing lessons, the AP reports.

Aid agencies stepped up supplies of clean water and latrines, but warn unsanitary conditions could lead to a wave of diarrhea and skin diseases, as well as infecting cuts and breaks sustained in the quake.