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VICTIMS of Indonesia’s tsunami are being buried in mass graves to prevent the spread of deadly diseases, government officials confirmed today.
Volunteers filling a mass grave in Palu were instructed to prepare for a total of 1,300 victims to arrive four days after the disaster struck.
At least 844 people have been confirmed as dead, however, the total is expected to be much higher as many remote areas have not yet been contacted.
Many people in Palu did not receive warnings of the incoming tsunami after the earthquake which hit on Friday caused power cuts. Sirens along the coast also failed.
Agencies report difficulties with rescue efforts due to landslides cutting off road links and damage to the main airport in the city.
President Joko Widodo called for international help with many survivors thought to be trapped in collapsed buildings.
"Communication is limited, heavy machinery is limited ... it's not enough for the numbers of buildings that collapsed," said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency.
