Indonesia tsunami death toll hits 1,234 as dozens of children’s bodies found in church

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Olivia Tobin2 October 2018

Dozens of children’s bodies were found at a Christian camp in Indonesia as the death toll from the devastating tsunami hit 1,234.

A desperate search continues to find survivors in Indonesia following the tsunami and earthquake which struck on Friday. A series of four more magnitude 4.0 and 5.0 have hit the country since then.

Essential fuel and food are running low in the regions affected, while scores of people await supplies.

A mass grave has already been dug for the victims of the tsunami and the death toll is expected to rise even further as more victims are found.

Most of those confirmed dead have been in the small city of Palu, on the Sulwasi island.

Among those killed in the area were 34 children at a Christian bible study camp, a Red Cross official said.

More than 50 of the dead were taken to a mass grave on the outskirts of Palu on Tuesday, while rescuers held out hope they could still save lives.

Rescue workers search for survivors
EPA

"We suspect there are still some survivors trapped inside," the head of one rescue team, Agus Haryono, said at the collapsed seven-storey Hotel Roa Roa.

About 50 people were believed to have been caught inside the hotel when it was brought down.

12 people are believed to have been recovered from the ruins, with one more body on Tuesday, while three of the victims were incredibly recovered alive.

The search has been going on since Friday
AFP/Getty Images

Mr Haryono said he has been looking at the building’s blueprints in detail, trying to establish where possible pockets may be and how to get to them.

He said: “We have to be very careful so we don’t risk hurting any survivors when we move the debris.”

Power has yet to be restored in the area and access by land to outlying villages has been disrupted by broken roads, landslides and downed bridges.

Nearly 60,000 people have been displaced and are in need of emergency help, while thousands have been streaming out of stricken areas.

A satellite image shows Palu
REUTERS

Some remote areas have been out of contact for more than three days and officials fear the confirmed death toll of 844 could soar into the thousands when losses in those areas are revealed.

The Red Cross said the situation was "nightmarish" and reports from its workers venturing into one cut-off area, Donggala, a region of 300,000 people north of Palu and close to the epicentre, indicated it had been hit "extremely hard".

The Indonesian President, Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo has been urged to act quicker in regards to Donggala.

A resident was filmed on a local broadcast shouting at the president. He said: “Pay attention to Donggala, My Jokowi. Pay attention to Donggala.”

He added: “There are still a lot of unattended villages here.”

Indonesian women survey the damage
AP

Donggala's administration head Kasman Lassa said residents should take only food staples from shops.

"Everyone is hungry and they want to eat after several days of not eating," Lassa said.

"We have anticipated it by providing food, rice, but it was not enough. There are many people here. So, on this issue, we cannot pressure them to hold much longer."

Desperation is reportedly visible everywhere among victims receiving little aid.

In Palu signs propped along roads read "We Need Food" and "We Need Support," while children begged for cash in the streets and long lines of cars snarled traffic as people waited for fuel.

Residents wait for updates
AFP/Getty Images

About 3,000 residents flocked to Palu's airport Monday, trying to board military aircraft or one of the few commercial flights using the facility only partially operating due to damage.

Video footage showed some of them screaming in anger because they were not able to get on a departing military plane.

"We have not eaten for three days!" one woman yelled. "We just want to be safe!"

Nearly 50,000 people have been displaced from their homes in Palu alone, officials said, and hospitals were overwhelmed.

Indonesia earthquake and tsunami kills hundreds

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