Hundreds of people queued to buy cheap cooking oil amid a shortage in Indonesia.

Villagers with their children were seen crowding into Megang Sports Building in Lubuklinggau City, South Sumatra province to buy cooking oil being sold by the local government on March 10.

Locals were only allowed to buy up to two litres per person worth IDR 27,000 (1.80 USD) to accommodate everyone amid fears of a shortage.

Lubuklinggau City Industry and Trade Office head Surya Darma said: 'We will improve the system so that the cooking oil market operation does not create a massive crowd like before.'

Police also intervened after buyers apparently failed to follow Covid-19 health protocols.

Adjunct Senior Commissioner Harissandi, head of the Lubuklinggau Police said: 'After the event, we had to temporarily stop the cooking oil market operation. The conditions at that time were not conducive, the residents did not comply with health protocols anymore.

'We had to postpone it because of that and later it will be rescheduled after discussions with the local government here.'

The cooking oil shortage was first reported in the country in January, with several districts having difficulty in obtaining the basic commodity.

The Indonesian Ministry of Trade has not yet conveyed the exact cause of the shortage but said it will continue to implement a number of policies including price subsidy to help consumers.

The Minister of Trade Muhammad Lutfi appealed to the public not to buy cooking oil in large quantities or panic buying.