A disaster appeal was launched by the Bermuda Red Cross after the toll in Indonesia from an earthquake and tsunami soared to 832 confirmed dead.

That figure was expected to rise after the island nation in South East Asia was struck on Friday, with Central Sulawesi province bearing the brunt.

Ginny Ferson, the former deputy governor who transferred to a Foreign Office post in Indonesia this July, shared cautions online from the British embassy in Jakarta, the capital, that warned of potential aftershocks and dangers of damaged buildings collapsing.

According to John Rankin, the Governor, Ms Ferson is in Britain for language training.

Ann Spencer-Arscott, executive director of the Bermuda Red Cross, issued a statement yesterday calling for aid as the extent of the disaster from the 7.4 magnitude earthquake remained unknown. Jan Gelfand, the head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ support office in Jakarta, the capital, said: “This is already a tragedy, but it could get much worse.”

The IFRC was expected to release funds today for disaster relief, and the Bermuda Red Cross began taking donations yesterday solely to assist the cause.

• Donations can be made by direct deposit into the charity’s Butterfield account number 20-006-060-365472-200. The charity’s website is www.bermudaredcross.com, and can accept debit or credit card donations. The Bermuda Red Cross, at 9 Berry Hill Road in Paget, is available at 236-8253 from 8.30am to 4pm on Mondays through Fridays. To read the full statement from Ann spencer-Arscott, executive director of the Bermuda Red Cross, click on the PDF under “Related Media”.