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Indonesia tsunami: Death toll rises to nearly 1,350 Indonesia tsunami: Death toll rises to nearly 1,350
(about 9 hours later)
The number of people known to have died in Indonesia in Friday's earthquake and tsunami has risen to 1,347, disaster response officials say. The number of people known to have died in Friday's earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia has risen to 1,347, disaster response officials say.
The death toll jumped on Tuesday from a previously confirmed figure of 844.The death toll jumped on Tuesday from a previously confirmed figure of 844.
The 7.5-magnitude quake struck just off the central island of Sulawesi, setting off a tsunami that engulfed the coastal city of Palu.The 7.5-magnitude quake struck just off the central island of Sulawesi, setting off a tsunami that engulfed the coastal city of Palu.
Police are guarding shops against looters as people desperately search for food, fuel and water. Aid supplies are beginning to arrive in the city, where survivors have no access to running water or electricity.
As tensions and need run high, police have begun guarding shops against looters.
The BBC's Jonathan Head in Palu saw police firing warning shots and tear gas on Tuesday as people tried to take supplies from one shop.
Officers initially took a lenient approach to survivors seizing basic goods, deputy national police chief Ari Dono Sukmanto said, but some people have since been arrested for stealing computers and cash.Officers initially took a lenient approach to survivors seizing basic goods, deputy national police chief Ari Dono Sukmanto said, but some people have since been arrested for stealing computers and cash.
"After day two the food supply started to come in, it only needed to be distributed," he said. "We are now re-enforcing the law.""After day two the food supply started to come in, it only needed to be distributed," he said. "We are now re-enforcing the law."
Humanitarian relief convoys entering the city are being escorted by soldiers and police. Humanitarian relief convoys entering the city are also being escorted by soldiers and police.
And there are fears some survivors may still be trapped under the rubble of buildings. In a separate incident, a volcano began erupting on the same island, Sulawesi, on Wednesday.
'A volley of shots and tear gas' Mount Soputan is about 1,000km (600 miles) away from Palu, and it was not immediately seen as a threat to the aid operation.
Jonathan Head, BBC News, Palu 'No drinks since yesterday'
Everyone we meet in Palu is focused on trying to get basic goods for their families. All normal services in the town have broken down and there's little running water, power, food or drinking water. People are desperate. Rebecca Henschke, BBC News, Palu
We saw one group of armed police guarding a shop, being pressed by local people to let them in. After days of waiting for aid, Wasliha decided she had to walk to find help. Her young family trekked through the mountains for more than 10 hours from her devastated village of Lolu Sigi Biromaru to Palu airport.
Suddenly the police shouted, warning everyone to back off, followed by volleys of shots fired in the air and tear gas. Some of the men threw stones at the police; for a moment it seemed it might escalate. "We had no clean water or food and all we have is the clothes we are wearing," she says.
Yet an hour later the police backed down and let the crowd in. The atmosphere was transformed, from anger to jubilation as people came running down the street clutching shopping bags. Her children gulp down the water we give them, they haven't drunk anything since yesterday
The police tried to stop people taking non-food items - some were made to empty the sacks bulging with commandeered produce, and hand over plastic toys and toiletries. She had heard the military was flying out and had joined hundreds of people at the airport hoping to get a seat.
One officer wearily told me it was his responsibility to protect the shop - but what could he do when people needed so much? Everyone wants to get out. Most can't and are having to endure another day without power and limited drinking water. In the town square people patiently wait in line to refill water bottles.
Those that can make it here receive two meals a day, from a community kitchen run by volunteers and gallon of water to bathe in.
Erna Wahyuni is cutting up a mountain of cabbage for soup. Her house was destroyed, but she wants to help.
"I was saved so I have to give back. It's also hard just sitting in a tent in the hot sun all day, I would rather be cooking," she laughs.
Are there still hopes of finding survivors?Are there still hopes of finding survivors?
Indonesian Red Cross officials have told the BBC that the bodies of 34 Indonesian students were found under a church buried by a mudslide. Some people were rescued from the rubble in the first few days.
They were among a group of 86 students reported missing from a Bible camp in the Jonooge Church Training Centre. The whereabouts of the other 52 students are not known. But many of the buildings brought down by the quake were then swamped by the tsunami, so hopes of more rescues are fading.
"The mud conditions in that area are terrible, we have to walk about one and a half hours to reach [the mudslide area], that makes it very difficult," Ridwan Sobri, a spokesperson for the Indonesian Red Cross told the BBC. In the hills above Palu, volunteers are filling a vast grave with the bodies of the dead. They have been told to prepare for 1,300 victims to arrive.
Mr Sobri said the identities and ages of the students could not yet be confirmed. The ground has become highly unstable and is constantly moving, making the search a dangerous operation and raising the risk of mudslides.
Rescuers are also still hunting for survivors in the ruins of a four-storey hotel in the city. Among the people confirmed dead are 34 Indonesian students, whose bodies were found under a church buried by one mudslide. Dozens more are still missing there.
An estimated 50 people were inside the Hotel Roa Roa when it collapsed. Teams have so far recovered three survivors and nine bodies. Teams have so far recovered three survivors from the ruins of the collapsed Hotel Roa Roa in Palu. An estimated 50 people were also inside when the quake hit.
Rescue team leader Agus Haryono said they were using acoustic detectors to try to locate more survivors.Rescue team leader Agus Haryono said they were using acoustic detectors to try to locate more survivors.
He said concrete and metal cutters were helping to clear the debris but added: "We have to be very careful so we don't risk hurting any survivors."He said concrete and metal cutters were helping to clear the debris but added: "We have to be very careful so we don't risk hurting any survivors."
President Joko Widodo has called for reinforcements, telling the national search-and-rescue agency to send more police officers and soldiers into affected districts.President Joko Widodo has called for reinforcements, telling the national search-and-rescue agency to send more police officers and soldiers into affected districts.
"There are some main priorities that we must tackle and the first is to evacuate, find and save victims who've not yet been found," he said."There are some main priorities that we must tackle and the first is to evacuate, find and save victims who've not yet been found," he said.
Why are people struggling to get help?Why are people struggling to get help?
Across Palu, a damaged bridge, blocked roads, a partially closed airport and broken telecommunications have made it difficult to bring help into the affected area, and impossible to contact more remote regions.Across Palu, a damaged bridge, blocked roads, a partially closed airport and broken telecommunications have made it difficult to bring help into the affected area, and impossible to contact more remote regions.
With hospitals damaged, injured people have been treated in the open and at least one military field hospital has been set up.With hospitals damaged, injured people have been treated in the open and at least one military field hospital has been set up.
The military has taken over the airport to fly aid in, and injured people and other evacuees out.The military has taken over the airport to fly aid in, and injured people and other evacuees out.
But for thousands of people wanting to get the first commercial flight out of Palu, the wait continues.But for thousands of people wanting to get the first commercial flight out of Palu, the wait continues.
"I'd get a plane anywhere. I've been waiting for two days. Haven't eaten, barely had a drink," 44-year-old food vendor Wiwid told Reuters."I'd get a plane anywhere. I've been waiting for two days. Haven't eaten, barely had a drink," 44-year-old food vendor Wiwid told Reuters.
On Monday, 3,000 to 5,000 people who wanted to be evacuated from Palu swarmed the airport hoping to hitch a ride on a military Hercules plane. The military arranged for them to depart on ferries instead.On Monday, 3,000 to 5,000 people who wanted to be evacuated from Palu swarmed the airport hoping to hitch a ride on a military Hercules plane. The military arranged for them to depart on ferries instead.
What was Palu like?
The United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs says there are nearly 200,000 people in urgent need of assistance, about a quarter of them children.The United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs says there are nearly 200,000 people in urgent need of assistance, about a quarter of them children.
The British government said on Tuesday it was sending a transport aircraft filled with urgent aid to Indonesia.The British government said on Tuesday it was sending a transport aircraft filled with urgent aid to Indonesia.
Defence secretary Gavin Williamson said: "Britain stands united with Indonesia as they recover from this devastating tragedy."Defence secretary Gavin Williamson said: "Britain stands united with Indonesia as they recover from this devastating tragedy."
Meanwhile, in the hills above Palu, volunteers are filling a vast grave with the bodies of the dead.
They have been told to prepare for 1,300 victims to arrive.
Why was the disaster so bad?Why was the disaster so bad?
The 7.5-magnitude quake occurred at a depth of 10km (6.2 miles) just off the central island of Sulawesi at 18:03 (10:03 GMT) on Friday, setting off a tsunami. The 7.5-magnitude quake occurred at a depth of 10km (6.2 miles) just off the central island of Sulawesi at 18:03 (10:03 GMT) on Friday.
The earthquake was powerful but shallow and with more lateral than vertical movement, not typically the kind of tremor that sets off tsunamis. Scientists believe it may have triggered an underwater landslide which set off a tsunami. The waves built up height and speed as they travelled down the long narrow bay towards Palu.
Vice-President Jusuf Kalla has said the final death toll could be in the thousands, while the Red Cross estimates that more than 1.6 million people have been affected.Vice-President Jusuf Kalla has said the final death toll could be in the thousands, while the Red Cross estimates that more than 1.6 million people have been affected.
What was Palu like?