JAKARTA, Dec. 29 (Xinhuanet) -- The Indonesian government said Wednesday the death toll from Sunday's earthquake and tidal waves could reach 40,000 in Aceh and North Sumatra provinces as more countries are pledging assistance.

    "Today our estimation is around 30,000-40,000 dead. Aceh's population is about 4.5 million with 300,000 in Banda Aceh," Kalla told diplomats at a meeting.

    Earlier, The Indonesian Ministry of Health said the country's death toll from the earthquake and the following tsunamis has climbed to over 30,000 so far.

    As massive rescue work is still going on, more dead bodies would be discovered and there are at least 1,100 people listed missing, officials said.

    Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the number of injured people in the disaster was estimated at 500,000.

    "The government needs at least 150 million US dollars for reconstruction," he said in a meeting with envoys of several countries.

    He said the reconstruction period will take five years.

    In a meeting with several ambassadors, Indonesia received pledged of relief supplies for victims of the disaster.

    The Chinese government pledged to extend 600,000 US dollars worth of aid in the form of blankets, tents and canned-food, whilethe South Korean government would send 150,000 dollars worth of assistance and a medical team.

    The Japanese government, meanwhile, would send 1.87 million dollars worth of aid in the form of generators, tents, blankets, food, drinking water and cooking oil and the Singaporean government pledged to send a medical team and medicines.

    The Australian government would provide water tanks and temporary shelters and four Hercules planes along with 10 medical experts.

Enditem