The death toll from the 28th September 7.5 magnitude earthquake that spawned a tsunami in Indonesia has risen to 1763, with 5000 believed buried in deep mud and under the debris of collapsed buildings and homes.
Local rescuers were continuing to dig at the collapsed hotel. The French rescuers said on their Facebook page that 40 people including six workers are missing from the hotel.
Thousands have been injured and more than 70,000 evacuated to shelters and makeshift tents that have sprouted across Palu, the provincial capital of Sulawesi island that is home to most of the victims, and its surrounding areas. Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said five ships carrying more than 90,000 tonnes of supplies arrived in Palu port on Thursday and two more vessels on Friday.
Military transport planes from Australia, India, Singapore, Malaysia and elsewhere have landed with relief goods. An Australian air force C-130 Hercules carrying clothes, bedding, tools, tarpaulins and food arrived at the airport in Balikpapan on Borneo island on Thursday.
Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said the search for the unaccounted would continue until October 11, at which point they would be listed as missing, presumed dead.
Image for illustration purposes.
