The epicentre was near the town of Cianjur in West Java, about 75 km south-east of the capital, Jakarta, where buildings shook and some offices were evacuated.

Over 13,000 people have been displaced, according to West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, who also gave the updated death toll.

Spokesperson for Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency (BNPB) Abdul Muhari said the search for potential survivors would continue through the night.

"So many buildings crumbled and shattered," Mr Kamil told reporters.

"There are residents trapped in isolated places ... so we are under the assumption that the number of injured and deaths will rise with time."

NPB said at least 25 people were trapped under collapsed buildings and more than 2,200 houses had been damaged. They also said up to 700 people had been injured.

Hasan, a construction worker being treated at the Cianjur Regional Hospital said the quake was "very strong" and caused him to faint.

"I saw my friends running to escape from the building," he said. "But I was too late to get out and was hit by the wall."

Footage from Metro TV showed some buildings in Cianjur reduced almost entirely to rubble as worried residents huddled outside.

Local official Herman Suherman said people in the area of Cugenang were unable to be evacuated because of a landslide blocking access.

The earthquake struck at a depth of 10km, according to Indonesia's weather, climatology and geophysics council BMKG. 

In the two hours after the quake, 25 aftershocks were recorded, BMKG said.

Sources | Reuters / AP