In Pictures

In Pictures: Indonesia’s deadly earthquake and tsunami

With most of the confirmed deaths from Palu, authorities brace for much worse as reports filter in from outlying areas.

Mass burial of victims of the earthquake and tsunami begin at the Poboya Cemetery in Palu, Central Sulawesi. [Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters]

2 Oct 2018

The toll from an earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia has soared to more than 1,234 with authorities fearing it will only climb as rescuers struggle to reach outlying communities cut off from communications and help.

Dozens of people were reported to be trapped in the rubble of two hotels and a mall in the city of Palu, which was hit by waves as high as six meters (20 feet) following the magnitude 7.5 earthquake on Friday.

A young woman was pulled alive from the rubble of the city’s Roa Roa Hotel, where up to 60 people were believed trapped. Hundreds of people gathered at the wrecked mall searching for loved ones.

With most of the confirmed deaths from Palu, authorities are bracing for much worse as reports filter in from outlying areas, in particular, Donggala, a region of 300,000 people north of Palu and closer to the epicentre of the quake, and two other districts.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the toll could rise into the thousands.

Aerial view of an area devestated by an earthquake in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. [Hafidz Mubarak/Antara Foto/Reuters]

A man injured during the earthquake and tsunami is evacuated on a military aircraft from Mutiara Sis Al Jufri Airport in Palu. [Hafidz Mubarak/Antara Foto/Reuters]

A man walks on a street heavily damaged by the earthquake in Balaroa neighbourhood, Palu. [Dita Alangkara/AP Photo]

This car was washed up by the sea in an area devastated by the tsunami in Talise beach, Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. [Mast Irham/EFE/EPA]

People search among the victims outside the Bhayangkara hospital after the quake in Palu, Central Sulawesi. [Muhammad Adimaja/Antara Foto/Reuters]

Search and rescue workers help a person trapped in the rubble following the earthquake in Palu. [Darwin Fatir/Antara Foto/Reuters]

People affected by the earthquake and tsunami wait to be evacuated on an air force plane in Palu. [Muhammad Adimaja/Antara Foto/Reuters]

Aerial view of a bridge damaged by the earthquake in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. [Muhammad Adimaja/Antara Foto/Reuters]

Residents sit out in the open for safety after the earthquake outside of Mutiara Sis Al Jufri airport in Palu. [Rolex Malaha/Antara Foto/Reuters]

An aerial view of Baiturrahman mosque which was hit by the tsunami that followed the earthquake in West Palu, Central Sulawesi. [Muhammad Adimaja/Antara Foto/Reuters]

Earthquake survivors had to be put on beds set up outside a hospital in Palu, Sulawesi Island. [Rolex Malaha/Antara Foto/Reuters]

This part of Talise beach, Palu was devastated by the tsunami.[Mast Irham/EFE-EPA]

Residents affected by the earthquake and tsunami board a military aircraft at Mutiara Sis Al Jufri Airport in Palu. [Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters]

The damage after the earthquake in Palu, Central Sulawesi Province. [Reuters]