'Miracle' rescue from earthquake rubble

A six-year-old boy has been pulled from the rubble of a deadly earthquake in Indonesia after spending two days trapped under debris without food or water.

The "miracle" rescue captured on camera Wednesday evening revived hopes that survivors could still be pulled alive from the wreckage days after the strong tremor that hit the West Java town of Cianjur on Monday, killing at least 271 people.

"Once we realized [the boy] Azka was alive, everybody broke into tears," 28-year-old local volunteer Jeksen Kolibu said. "It felt like a miracle."

Footage released by the administration of West Java's Bogor district showed rescue workers pulling Azka free from a destroyed home in Cianjur's worst-hit district of Cugenang.

The man who pulled him out of a hole cut in the debris clasped him in both arms, as another rescue worker ran after them to hold the boy's hand.

Azka was then shown calmly sipping a drink, held by a soldier as another emergency worker stroked his hair.

His mother died in the earthquake and her body was found hours before Azka's rescue, a volunteer said.

The boy was then found next to his dead grandmother, Kolibu said. He was only saved by a wall holding up another collapsed wall, preventing it from falling on him, local media reported.

"He was found on the left side of the house, on a bed. He was protected by a pillow and there was a 10-centimeter gap between him and the concrete slab," said Kolibu. "Such a narrow space. It was dark, hot and there was not enough hole for air. We didn't expect him to still be alive after 48 hours.

"For all the years since I became a volunteer, I've never seen anything like this. How can you not cry?"

The young boy appeared dazed and traumatized from the two-day ordeal.

"Azka did not make a sound, he did not cry for help or whimper at all," said Kolibu. "Even when he was pulled out of the rubble, he was still conscious and didn't say anything. He looked so confused."

Many of those killed in the quake were children at school or in their homes when it struck, officials said.

Authorities warned that time was running out for about 40 people still missing, as rescue workers were delayed by hammering rain and aftershocks.