JAKARTA, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has ordered Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari to immediately send facilities and equipment to earthquake-hit Yogyakarta for the setting up of field hospitals.

    More than 1500 fatalities were reported up to now since the earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale shook Yogyakarta and parts of Central Java at 5:55 a.m. local time.

    "My deep condolences go to the families of victims in the deadly earthquake in Yogyakarta," Antara news agency quoted Yudhoyono as saying to newsmen after opening a congress of the New Indonesian Party (PIB) here on Saturday.

    The president said he had also ordered Indonesian Defence Forces (TNI) chief Marshal Djoko Suyanto to mobilize TNI personnel in Yogyakarta and surrounding areas to help the quake victims.

    Besides the health minister, Coordinating Minister for People'sWelfare Aburizal Bakrie and Social Affairs Minister Bachtiar Chamsyah had also been instructed by the president to immediately provide emergency aid to victims in the field.

    Yudhoyono said he was continuously receiving reports from Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sulatn Hamengkubuwono X about every development, including the existence of the widespread but unfounded fear for a tsunami after the earthquake.

    Meanwhile, Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari said she would soon send three field hospitals to the quake-hit areas in Yogyakarta and Central Java.

    "Three field hospitals, medical and logistic supplies and a medical team from the Health Ministry will be sent immediately to Yogyakarta," the minister said, adding that some 60 doctors and paramedics from Jakarta would leave for Central Java on Saturday evening.

    The minister said she would also send doctors and medical team grouped in Disaster Alert Brigade at the nearby areas to give medical assistance to the victims in Yogyakarta and its surrounding areas. Enditem