Astonishing moment a building 'floats' past after tremors LIQUEFY the ground, swallowing 1,700 homes in Indonesia as mass grave is dug for more than a THOUSAND victims

  • WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT 
  • A 7.5 magnitude earthquake caused a massive tsunami to crash into Indonesia's Sulawesi island on Friday
  • Cities of Palu and Donggala were badly hit with enormous 20ft waves sweeping through entire communities
  • Death toll has risen to more than 1,200 but there are fears hundreds more are trapped in mud or in buildings 
  • Footage shows 'liquefaction' of the ground with some 1,700 homes swallowed up in rivers of mud and soil
  • Indonesian officials have prepared a 330ft-long grave in Palu with space for more than a thousand victims 
  • In the district of Sigi, 34 children attending a Christian camp were found dead under tsunami debris

Advertisement

This is the astonishing moment a building 'floated' along a river of mud after the devastating Indonesian earthquake liquefied the ground.

Hundreds are feared trapped in mud and 1,700 homes were 'swallowed up' on the island of Sulawesi after tremors turned water-filled soil in to mush in a phenomenon known as liquefaction.

Terrifying footage, filmed from the metal roof of a house, shows large buildings and electricity pylons moving past after being ripped from their foundations.

The clip emerged as the death toll from the disaster climbed to more than 1,200 and officials prepared a mass grave with space for hundreds of victims of Friday's earthquake and tsunami. Workers were seen hauling body bags into the 330ft-long tomb in Palu.

Meanwhile, reports have emerged of looters raiding collapsed shopping malls and hundreds of convicts escaping the ruins of their prison. 

In the district of Sigi, 34 children were found dead under tsunami debris. They were all attending a Christian camp, Indonesian Red Cross spokeswoman Aulia Arriani said. 

A 38-year-old man was pulled out alive from beneath a collapsed building three days after the 7.5 earthquake and 500mph tsunami devastated the city of Palu.

Indonesian TV stations showed video from the National Search and Rescue Agency of its workers freeing Sapri Nusin from the rubble of a destroyed finance building. He was conscious and talking to his rescuers as they worked by flashlight. 

Footage shows the astonishing moment a building 'floated' along a river of mud after the deadly Indonesian earthquake and tsunami liquefied the ground
Footage shows the astonishing moment a building 'floated' along a river of mud after the deadly Indonesian earthquake and tsunami liquefied the ground

Footage shows the astonishing moment a building 'floated' along a river of mud after the deadly Indonesian earthquake and tsunami liquefied the ground

Hundreds are feared trapped in mud and 1,700 homes were 'swallowed up' on the island of Sulawesi after tremors turned water-filled soil in to mush in a phenomenon known as liquefaction. The terrifying clip emerged as the death toll from the disaster climbed to more than 1,200 and officials prepared a mass grave with space for hundreds of earthquake and tsunami victims

Hundreds are feared trapped in mud and 1,700 homes were 'swallowed up' on the island of Sulawesi after tremors turned water-filled soil in to mush in a phenomenon known as liquefaction. The terrifying clip emerged as the death toll from the disaster climbed to more than 1,200 and officials prepared a mass grave with space for hundreds of earthquake and tsunami victims

A mass grave for more than a thousand earthquake and tsunami victims has been prepared in Indonesia as a desperate hunt for survivors continued today

A mass grave for more than a thousand earthquake and tsunami victims has been prepared in Indonesia as a desperate hunt for survivors continued today

Officials could be seen hauling body bags into the 330ft-long tomb in Palu after the city on the island of Sulawesi was devastated by 20ft waves and tremors so powerful they turned the ground to liquid

Officials could be seen hauling body bags into the 330ft-long tomb in Palu after the city on the island of Sulawesi was devastated by 20ft waves and tremors so powerful they turned the ground to liquid

Around midday, teams of workers, their mouths covered by masks, carried 18 bagged bodies and laid them in a trench. Mechanical earthmovers waited to push soil on top of the bodies. More burials are expected to follow

Around midday, teams of workers, their mouths covered by masks, carried 18 bagged bodies and laid them in a trench. Mechanical earth-movers waited to push soil on top of the bodies. More burials are expected to follow

A 25-year-old woman was found alive Sunday evening in the ruins of the Roa-Roa Hotel, according to the National Search and Rescue Agency, which released photos of the her lying on a stretcher covered in a blanket

A 25-year-old woman was found alive Sunday evening in the ruins of the Roa-Roa Hotel, according to the National Search and Rescue Agency, which released photos of the her lying on a stretcher covered in a blanket

Rescuers carry an earthquake survivor at restaurant building damaged by a massive earthquake and a tsunami in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

Rescuers carry an earthquake survivor at restaurant building damaged by a massive earthquake and a tsunami in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

Looters took the opportunity to raid a shopping mall badly damaged by the massive earthquake. A man in a Christmas hat his pictured carrying a huge stolen television on the back of a motorbike

Looters took the opportunity to raid a shopping mall badly damaged by the massive earthquake. A man in a Christmas hat his pictured carrying a huge stolen television on the back of a motorbike

A man takes a photo of a car left jammed in the side of a building following the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia 

A man takes a photo of a car left jammed in the side of a building following the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia 

Devastation: Pictures capture the scale of the damage caused by the disaster. Officials have yet to reach some badly affected areas

Devastation: Pictures capture the scale of the damage caused by the disaster. Officials have yet to reach some badly affected areas

A ship is seen stranded on the shore after being thrown inland when the earthquake and tsunami hit Wani, Donggala, Central Sulawesi

A ship is seen stranded on the shore after being thrown out of the sea when the earthquake and tsunami hit Wani, Donggala, Central Sulawesi

The tsunami swept down a bay before crashing into the city of Palu, crushing everything in its path after the 7.5 magnitude earthquake on Friday

The tsunami swept down a bay before crashing into the city of Palu. crushing everything in its path after the 7.5 magnitude earthquake on Friday

A picture taken with a drone camera shows a ship stranded on the shore after tsunami hit the area in Wani, Donggala

A picture taken with a drone camera shows a ship stranded on the shore after tsunami hit the area in Wani, Donggala

Earthquake and tsunami victims look for goods to use in a warehouse in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

Earthquake and tsunami victims look for goods to use in a warehouse in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

Houses and vehicles damaged by earthquake and tsunami are seen on Talise beach area, Palu, Central Sulawesi

Houses and vehicles damaged by earthquake and tsunami are seen on Talise beach area, Palu, Central Sulawesi

Some remote areas feared wiped out by the disaster have yet to be contacted, medicines are running out and rescuers, who have reported hearing screams from under building wreckage, are struggling with a shortage of heavy equipment.

In response, President Joko Widodo opened the door to the dozens of international aid agencies and NGOs who are lined up to provide life-saving assistance.   

Britain will send a team of five aid workers to Sulawesi along with £2 million of support to help the thousands left homeless, the Department for International Development (DfID) confirmed.

Overhead images show the scale of the devastation around the city of Palu in central Sulawesi after it was smashed by a tsunami

Overhead images show the scale of the devastation around the city of Palu in central Sulawesi after it was smashed by a tsunami

A soldier holds an infant rescued after the earthquake and tsunami as he waits for a military aircraft at Mutiara Sis Al Jufri Airport in Palu on Sunday

A soldier holds an infant rescued after the earthquake and tsunami as he waits for a military aircraft at Mutiara Sis Al Jufri Airport in Palu today

The twisted remains of a truck and cars can be seen lodged against a tree along the coast at Lolik beach near Palu

The twisted remains of a truck and cars can be seen lodged against a tree along the coast at Lolik beach near Palu, Sulawesi today

Roads were left in crumpled ruins by the power of the earthquake on Friday. This was the scene in Palu this week

Roads were left in crumpled ruins by the power of the earthquake on Friday. This was the scene in Palu today

Overhead shots taken by a drone show how communities were simply swept away during the tsunami after it struck on Friday

Overhead shots taken by a drone show how communities were simply swept away during the tsunami after it struck on Friday

Huge crowds of people have gathered at Mutiara Sis Al Jufri Airport in Palu in the hope of being evacuated on military planes

Huge crowds of people have gathered at Mutiara Sis Al Jufri Airport in Palu in the hope of being evacuated on military planes

Cars were left in ruins after the tsunami crushed everything in its path on Friday. This was the scene at a garage in Talise Beach

Cars were left in ruins after the tsunami crushed everything in its path on Friday. This was the scene at a garage in Talise Beach

The ground was turned to mush after the quake shook the area's water-filled soil on Friday. This picture shows how the earth was churned up

The ground was turned to mush after the quake shook the area's water-filled soil on Friday. This picture shows how the earth was churned up

Indonesians wait in line in the hope of being evacuated on military planes at an airport in Palu

Indonesians wait in line in the hope of being evacuated on military planes at an airport in Palu

A ship is seen stranded on the shore after an earthquake and tsunami hit the area in Wani, Donggala, Central Sulawesi

A ship is seen stranded on the shore after an earthquake and tsunami hit the area in Wani, Donggala, Central Sulawesi

International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt said: 'The UK offers its deepest condolences to those affected by the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia which has left hundreds of people dead and thousands more homeless and in need of urgent help.' 

Figures collected by the National Police Headquarters put the number killed at 1,203 people. Officials fear the toll will rise steeply in the coming days and are preparing for the worst, declaring a 14-day state of emergency.

One woman was recovered alive from ruins overnight in the Palu neighbourhood of Balaroa, where about 1,700 houses were swallowed up when the earthquake caused soil to liquify, the national rescue agency said.

'We don't know how many victims could be buried there, it's estimated hundreds,' said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency. 

Buildings in Petobo village, Sulawesi, were either flattened of engulfed in mud after the devastating earthquake. This was the scene in the village today

Buildings in Petobo village, Sulawesi, were either flattened of engulfed in mud after the devastating earthquake. This was the scene in the village today

A motorcyclist takes photos of a damaged road in Petobo village in Palu, Indonesia's Central Sulawesi this morning

A motorcyclist takes photos of a damaged road in Petobo village in Palu, Indonesia's Central Sulawesi this morning

Aerial photographs show how the deadly tsunami crashed through houses, destroying everything in its path on Friday

Aerial photographs show how the deadly tsunami crashed through houses, destroying everything in its path on Friday

The power of the earthquake and tsunami flipped cars over and left buildings in ruins at Talise beach in Palu, central Sulawesi

The power of the earthquake and tsunami flipped cars over and left buildings in ruins at Talise beach in Palu, central Sulawesi

This mass grave has been built on a hill top outside Palu and has space for up to a thousand bodies. Officials have already started filling it with the dead

This mass grave has been built on a hill top outside Palu and has space for up to a thousand bodies. Officials have already started filling it with the dead

Pictures show the scale of the devastation and the work still to be done days after the tsunami and earthquake struck the island

Pictures show the scale of the devastation and the work still to be done days after the tsunami and earthquake struck the island

An earthquake victim looks at the ruins of a mosque after it came crashing down during the devastating earthquake and tsunami

An earthquake victim looks at the ruins of a mosque after it came crashing down during the devastating earthquake and tsunami

Rescuers are continuing to find bodies in the remains of collapsed buildings in Palu amid fears the death toll will climb

Rescuers are continuing to find bodies in the remains of collapsed buildings in Palu amid fears the death toll will climb

Rescuers try to rescue a 15-year old earthquake victim Nurul Istikharah from her damaged house following earthquakes and tsunami in Palu on Sunday

Rescuers try to rescue a 15-year old earthquake victim Nurul Istikharah from her damaged house following earthquakes and tsunami in Palu on Sunday

How a 'perfect storm' spawned disaster

Inadequate warning systems, a lack of education about what to do when the quake hit and a narrow bay that channelled the tsunami's destructive force - a perfect storm of factors spawned the deadly disaster in Indonesia.

Questions are mounting about what exactly happened and if more could have been done to save lives.

The tragedy has highlighted what critics say is a patchy early-warning system to detect tsunamis in the seismically-active Southeast Asian archipelago.

'There was no information about a tsunami recorded by the tide-monitoring station in Palu because it was not working,' Widjo Kongko, a tsunami expert with the Indonesian government's technology agency, told AFP.

The station keeps a check on changes in tides and should have detected if destructive waves were headed for the city.

After the initial quake, Indonesia's geophysics agency - which monitors seismic activity - did issue a tsunami warning but lifted it soon afterwards.

It was only later that images emerged of a surging wall of water charging into the coast, flattening buildings and overturning cars.

Tide-monitoring stations and data-modelling are the main tools in Indonesia for predicting if a quake has generated a tsunami.

But even if all the country's stations are working, experts say the network is limited and in any case gives people little time to flee as they only detect waves once they are close to shore.

Efforts to improve systems have been beset by problems, from a failure to properly maintain new equipment to bureaucratic bickering.

After a quake-tsunami in 2004 off Sumatra island killed 220,000 across the region, with most victims in Indonesia, 22 early-warning buoys were deployed around the country to detect tsunamis.

But officials have admitted that they are no longer working after being vandalised and due to a lack of funds for maintenance.

In another case, a major project with funding from the US National Science Foundation to deploy high-tech tsunami sensors in a quake-prone part of western Indonesia has been delayed.

Louise Comfort, a natural disaster expert from the University of Pittsburgh who has led the American side of the initiative, said that it had been put on hold after disagreement between government agencies and a delay in getting financing.

'It's so disheartening and it's so sad because we've got the technology, we've got the knowledge, we know we can do it,' she told AFP.

However, others called for a stronger focus on simply teaching people to head to higher ground when a quake hits, rather than on expensive technology which many communities in a developing country like Indonesia cannot afford.

'For a place like Indonesia to try and defend its coastline, education is almost certainly going to outpace technology for the foreseeable future,' said Adam Switzer, a tsunami expert from Nanyang Technological University's Earth Observatory of Singapore.

'Every kid in Indonesia needs to be taught what to do if they are on the coast and there is an earthquake.'

Observers stressed the Indonesian quake was highly complex, and it would not have been easy to predict it would send a tsunami barrelling towards the small community of Palu.

The initial tremor was a sideways movement of tectonic plates, rather than the sort of violent upward thrust that would typically generate destructive waves, and was followed by scores of aftershocks.

Experts believe that the tsunami could have been triggered by an underwater landslide that followed the tremor.

Palu's unique geography will not have helped, they said - the tsunami likely intensified as it raced down the narrow bay on which the city sits.

'Geographical factors (the narrow bay, shallow water) seemed to have played major roles,' said Taro Arikawa, a professor at Chuo University in Tokyo.

'The tsunami must have come very fast and suddenly.'

Advertisement

This morning, Local Army Commander Tiopan Aritonang said 545 bodies would be brought from one hospital alone to a mass grave in Palu. 

The grave will be 33 ft by 330 ft and can be enlarged if needed, said Willem Rampangilei, chief of Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency.

'This must be done as soon as possible for health and religious reasons,' he said. Indonesia is majority Muslim, and religious custom calls for burials soon after death, typically within one day.

Local military spokesman Mohammad Thorir said the area adjacent to a public cemetery can hold 1,000 bodies. 

All of the victims, coming from local hospitals, have been photographed to help families locate where their relatives were buried. 

Video footage showed residents walking from body bag to body bag, opening the top to check to see if they could identify faces.

Around midday, teams of workers, their mouths covered by masks, carried 18 bagged bodies and laid them in a trench at Poboya - in the hills above Palu. 

Mechanical earth-movers waited to push soil on top of the bodies. More burials are expected to follow with authorities desperate to stave off any disease outbreak caused by decomposing bodies.

Military and commercial aircraft were delivering some aid and supplies to the region. 

But there was a desperate need for heavy equipment to reach possible survivors buried in collapsed buildings, including an eight-story hotel in Palu where voices were heard in the rubble.

A 25-year-old woman was found alive Sunday evening in the ruins of the Roa-Roa Hotel, according to the National Search and Rescue Agency, which released photos of the her lying on a stretcher covered in a blanket. 

A number of other survivors were still being found and a few were being pulled from buildings in different locations.

Desperate survivors turned to looting shops for basics like food, water and fuel as police looked on, unwilling or unable to intervene.

'There has been no aid, we need to eat. We don't have any other choice, we must get food,' one man in Palu told AFP as he filled a basket with goods from a nearby store.

Television pictures showed scores of residents shouting 'we're hungry, we need food' as soldiers distributed rations from a truck in one neighbourhood, while footage from elsewhere showed people making off with clothes and other items from a wrecked mall. 

Local television said around 3,000 residents had flocked to the Palu airport trying to get out. Footage showed some people screaming in anger because they were not able to board departing military aircraft.

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

Meanwhile, some 1,200 Indonesian convicts are on the run from three different detention facilities in devastated Sulawesi.

One prison in Palu - built to hold just 120 people - saw most of its 581 inmates storm past guards and escape to freedom through walls collapsed by the massive 7.5 magnitude shake. 

'Things were initially fine...but not long after the quake, water erupted from under the prison yard causing prisoners to panic and then run onto the road,' said Ministry of Justice official Sri Puguh Utami, adding that the water was not from the tsunami.

'I'm sure they escaped because they feared they would be affected by the earthquake. 

'This is for sure a matter of life and death for the prisoners,' she added.

Inmates had fled from another overcapacity facility in Palu by breaking down its main door and another in Donggala, an area also hit by the disaster.

The Donggala jail was set on fire and all 343 inmates were now on the run, Utami said. 

The arson was thought to have been sparked by angry detainees demanding to see their families.

'They panicked after learning that Donggala was badly hit by the earthquake,' Utami said.

'Prison officials did negotiate with prisoners about allowing them to go to check on their families. 

'But some prisoners were apparently not patient enough and committed the arson.'

Some of the convicts were jailed for corruption and narcotics offences, she said. 

Five people convicted of terror-related crimes had been moved from the prison just days before the disaster. 

Just over 100 prisoners at the two facilities in Palu were still in jail, but overstretched guards were struggling to keep them fed.

'The prison no longer had enough food,' Utami said. 'Officials then tried to buy supplies from stores around the prison that were still open.'

Nearly all of those confirmed dead in the disaster are from Palu. The regencies of Donggala, Sigi and Parigi Moutong - with a combined population of 1.2 million - had yet to be fully assessed.

'The death toll is believed to be still increasing, since many bodies were still under the wreckage, while many have not been reached,' said disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. 

The cries from beneath the Roa-Roa Hotel, which appeared to have toppled over with its walls splintered like pickup sticks, went silent by Sunday afternoon. 

Officials had estimated about 50 people could be inside.

This huge road bridge was completely destroyed when the earthquake and resulting tsunami struck on Friday. Its mangled remains are pictured today

This huge road bridge was completely destroyed when the earthquake and resulting tsunami struck on Friday. Its mangled remains are pictured today

An aerial pictured taken with a drone camera shows how a mosque and the surrounding area was completely destroyed in Palu

An aerial pictured taken with a drone camera shows how a mosque and the surrounding area was completely destroyed in Palu

Rescuers have been leaving bodies in make-shift open-air morgues in Palu. Officials have been moving quickly to bury bodies amid fears over the spread of disease

Rescuers have been leaving bodies in make-shift open-air morgues in Palu. Officials have been moving quickly to bury bodies amid fears over the spread of disease

An injured man is evacuated on a military aircraft at Mutiara Sis Al Jufri Airport in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

An injured man is evacuated on a military aircraft at Mutiara Sis Al Jufri Airport in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

Samidah, a relative of a victim, cries while gathered outside the collapsed Roa Roa hotel in Palu, Indonesia's Central Sulawesi

Samidah, a relative of a victim, cries while gathered outside the collapsed Roa Roa hotel in Palu, Indonesia's Central Sulawesi

A woman cries as she waits to be evacuated by military aircraft following an earthquake and tsunami at Mutiara Sis Al Jufri Airport in Palu

A woman cries as she waits to be evacuated by military aircraft following an earthquake and tsunami at Mutiara Sis Al Jufri Airport in Palu

A man walks inside a damaged area at the Airport in the aftermath of earthquake in Palu in Indonesia

A man walks inside a damaged area at the Airport in the aftermath of earthquake in Palu in Indonesia

Rescue personnel evacuate earthquake survivor Ida, a food vendor, from the rubble of a collapsed restaurant in Palu

Rescue personnel evacuate earthquake survivor Ida, a food vendor, from the rubble of a collapsed restaurant in Palu

Relatives look for tsunami and earthquake victims in body bags at a police station, in the aftermath of earthquake in Palu

Relatives look for tsunami and earthquake victims in body bags at a police station, in the aftermath of earthquake in Palu

Rescue personnel evacuate earthquake survivor Ida, a food vendor, from the rubble of a collapsed restaurant in Palu

Rescue personnel evacuate earthquake survivor Ida, a food vendor, from the rubble of a collapsed restaurant in Palu

The death toll from an earthquake and tsunami that devastated part of the island of Sulawesi has risen to 1,203. Earthquake victims stuck in a traffic jam gather as they leave Palu

The death toll from an earthquake and tsunami that devastated part of the island of Sulawesi has risen to 1,203. Earthquake victims stuck in a traffic jam gather as they leave Palu

Rescue personnel carry the body of an earthquake victim to the compounds of a police hospital in Palu

Rescue personnel carry the body of an earthquake victim to the compounds of a police hospital in Palu

A team of rescuers helping to pull a trapped woman from the mud on Sunday as thousands more are still feared to be trapped under rubble from Friday's earthquake

A team of rescuers helping to pull a trapped woman from the mud on Sunday as thousands more are still feared to be trapped under rubble from Friday's earthquake

'We are trying our best. Time is so important here to save people,' said Muhammad Syaugi, head of the national search and rescue team. 'Heavy equipment is on the way.'

Metro TV showed about a dozen rescuers in orange jumpsuits climbing over debris with a stretcher carrying the body of a victim from the modest business hotel.

Other rescuers worked to try to free a 15-year-old girl trapped under concrete in her house in Palu after it collapsed on her family during the earthquake. Unable to move her legs under the rubble, Nurul Istikharah was trapped beside her dead mother and niece. Rescuers also tried to control water from a leaking pipe, fearing she would drown.

Istikharah was unconscious during part of the effort to free her, but rescuers kept talking to her to try to keep her awake. Others offered her food and water. 

Striking aerial shots show a mosque which has been razed first by the 7.5 magnitude earthquake and then the 2 meter high wave on Friday afternoon 

Striking aerial shots show a mosque which has been razed first by the 7.5 magnitude earthquake and then the 2 meter high wave on Friday afternoon 

A road traffic bridge could be seen completely collapsed along the coastline in the outskirts of Palu as first the earthquake and then the tsunami swept away enormous pieces of the city's infrastructure

A road traffic bridge could be seen completely collapsed along the coastline in the outskirts of Palu as first the earthquake and then the tsunami swept away enormous pieces of the city's infrastructure

A handout photo made available by the Indonesian Presidential Palace showing Indonesian President Joko Widodo (C) looking at a ruined house as he visits a devastated area in Palu

A handout photo made available by the Indonesian Presidential Palace showing Indonesian President Joko Widodo (C) looking at a ruined house as he visits a devastated area in Palu

A handout photo made available by the Indonesian Presidential Palace showing Indonesian President Joko Widodo (2-L) talking to residents as he visits a devastated area in Palu

A handout photo made available by the Indonesian Presidential Palace showing Indonesian President Joko Widodo (2-L) talking to residents as he visits a devastated area in Palu

An injured man is evacuated on a military aircraft following an earthquake and tsunami at Mutiara Sis Al Jufri Airport in Palu

An injured man is evacuated on a military aircraft following an earthquake and tsunami at Mutiara Sis Al Jufri Airport in Palu

In this photo released by the Indonesian Presidential Office, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, left, talks with tsunami survivors in a temporary shelter

In this photo released by the Indonesian Presidential Office, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, left, talks with tsunami survivors in a temporary shelter

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (L) looking at a ruined house as he visits a devastated area in Palu

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (L) looking at a ruined house as he visits a devastated area in Palu

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, second right, talks with tsunami survivors in Palu on Sunday as he flew into Sulawesi to oversee relief efforts

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, second right, talks with tsunami survivors in Palu on Sunday as he flew into Sulawesi to oversee relief efforts

Earthquake victims stuck in a traffic jam gather as they leave Palu on September 30, 2018

Earthquake victims stuck in a traffic jam gather as they leave Palu on September 30, 2018

Earthquake victims stuck in a traffic jam gather as they leave Palu on September 30, 2018

Earthquake victims stuck in a traffic jam gather as they leave Palu on September 30, 2018

Relatives look for tsunami and earthquake victims in body bags at a police station in Palu

Relatives look for tsunami and earthquake victims in body bags at a police station in Palu

Indonesian President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo authorized for the country to accept international help for the disaster, Thomas Lembong, chair of Indonesia's Investment Coordinating Board, tweeted Monday morning. It wasn't immediately clear what type of help was being authorized, but the stricken areas needed medical supplies, food and water.

'We will send food today, as much as possible with several aircraft,' he told journalists in the capital, Jakarta, adding a supply of fuel was also set to arrive.

It was the latest natural disaster to hit Indonesia, which is frequently struck by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis because of its location on the 'Ring of Fire,' an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin. 

In December 2004, a massive magnitude 9.1 earthquake off Sumatra island in western Indonesia triggered a tsunami that killed 230,000 people in a dozen countries. More recently, a powerful quake on the island of Lombok killed 505 people in August.

Indonesian rescuers search for the victims on the a collapsed Roa Roa hotel building in Palu as frantic efforts to save those trapped continued over the weekend

Indonesian rescuers search for the victims on the a collapsed Roa Roa hotel building in Palu as frantic efforts to save those trapped continued over the weekend

Members of the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency sift through the rubble of a collapsed building on Sunday in their desperate search for survivors

Members of the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency sift through the rubble of a collapsed building on Sunday in their desperate search for survivors

Motorists pass by a half-collapsed shopping mall heavily damaged by a massive earthquake and tsunami as darkness falls on Palu on Sunday

Motorists pass by a half-collapsed shopping mall heavily damaged by a massive earthquake and tsunami as darkness falls on Palu on Sunday

People take gasoline from a truck as the bare essentials are shipped in to the worst affected areas around the city of Palu on Sulawesi island

People take gasoline from a truck as the bare essentials are shipped in to the worst affected areas around the city of Palu on Sulawesi island

Hordes of people could be seen taking items from a damaged shopping mall in downtown Palu on Sunday as supply lines to the island remain down

Hordes of people could be seen taking items from a damaged shopping mall in downtown Palu on Sunday as supply lines to the island remain down

A mannequin lies on the ground amid the wreckage of a destroyed shopping mall in Palu on Sunday as the island struggles to cope with the effects of the devastating quake and tsunami

A mannequin lies on the ground amid the wreckage of a destroyed shopping mall in Palu on Sunday as the island struggles to cope with the effects of the devastating quake and tsunami

Looters take away items from a shopping mall as government agencies struggle to get fresh aid to the affected areas of coastline

Looters take away items from a shopping mall as government agencies struggle to get fresh aid to the affected areas of coastline

People sifting through the rubble on Sunday after the earthquake razed several thousand of Palu's most vulnerable buildings to the ground on Friday

People sifting through the rubble on Sunday after the earthquake razed several thousand of Palu's most vulnerable buildings to the ground on Friday

In Donggala, the site closest to the earthquake's epicenter, aerial footage on Metro TV showed the sugary blond sands of beaches swept out to sea, along with some buildings. 

Some buildings in the town were severely damaged, with plywood walls shredded and chunks of concrete scattered on the pavement. Much of the damage, however, appeared limited to the waterfront. 

Palu, which has more than 380,000 people, was strewn with debris from the earthquake and tsunami. A heavily damaged mosque was half submerged and a shopping mall was reduced to a crumpled hulk. A large bridge with yellow arches had collapsed.

The city is built around a narrow bay that apparently magnified the force of the tsunami as the waves raced into the tight inlet. Nugroho, the disaster agency spokesman, said waves were reported as high as 6 meters (20 feet) in some places.

In one devastated area in Palu, residents said dozens of people could still be buried in their homes.

Thousands of people queue for gasoline in the streets of Palu following the disaster as many of the cars and motorbikes being used by civilians to adjust to the crisis have run out of fuel

Thousands of people queue for gasoline in the streets of Palu following the disaster as many of the cars and motorbikes being used by civilians to adjust to the crisis have run out of fuel

The damage outside a shopping mall in central Palu where dozens of motorbikes and cars have been submerged by the flooding from Friday's tsunami

The damage outside a shopping mall in central Palu where dozens of motorbikes and cars have been submerged by the flooding from Friday's tsunami

Two men push a shopping trolley filled with goods away from the carcass of a destroyed shopping mall as people with motorbikes lined up in the streets to take away the looted goods on Sunday

Two men push a shopping trolley filled with goods away from the carcass of a destroyed shopping mall as people with motorbikes lined up in the streets to take away the looted goods on Sunday

The terrifying moment families run for their lives in Indonesia as tsunami and quakes turn the ground to LIQUID

The surface of tsunami-destroyed Palu City in Indonesia has turned to mush, with the death toll from Friday's natural disaster likely to climb even higher from 1,203.

Houses and buildings have moved, sunken or collapsed as a result of the 'liquefaction' of the ground and there are more people still suspected to be trapped.

This natural phenomenon occurs during an earthquake when tremors shake normally compact layers of sand and soil into a deadly 'soup' that can create an effect similar to a sink hole.  

In a video shared to Twitter on Sunday, families stood watch as buildings around them crumbled and the earth slid beneath their feet.

Houses and buildings have moved, sunken or collapsed as a result of the 'liquefaction' of the ground and there are more people still suspected to be trapped
The surface of tsunami-destroyed Palu City in Indonesia has turned to mush, with the death toll from Friday's natural disaster likely to climb even higher from 1,203

Houses and buildings have moved, sunken or collapsed as a result of the 'liquefaction' of the ground and there are more people still suspected to be trapped

The short clip was uploaded by Indonesian official Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, who wrote, 'houses moved and collapsed were caused by the liquefaction process and collapsed due to the 7.4 SR earthquake in Palu City.

'The ground surface moves and sinks so that all buildings are destroyed. The geological process is very terrible. It is estimated that victims are trapped in this area.'

Loud rumbling and crashing could be heard in the footage as a distressed family, including a baby, fled from nearby crumbling buildings.

The panicked group were forced to watched as a large shed-like structure fell to the ground before sliding across it towards them.

There were scenes of chaos as people scurried to reach safe ground - an impossible task given the dangerous sinking mud.

Fears have been mounting for the the fishing town of Donggala, which was closer to the epicentre of the quake, because rescuers have not been able to reach it.

The town of Mamuju was also severely affected but currently impossible to access due to damaged roads and disrupted telecommunications.

Advertisement

'The ground rose up like a spine and suddenly fell. Many people were trapped and buried under collapsed houses. I could do nothing to help,' resident Nur Indah said, crying. 'In the evening, some of them turned on their cellphones just to give a sign that they were there. But the lights were off later and the next day.'

With hundreds injured, earthquake-damaged hospitals were overwhelmed.

Nugroho said 61 foreigners were in Palu at the time of the disaster. Most were accounted for, but one South Korean was believed to be trapped in the Roa-Roa Hotel, while three others from France and one from Malaysia were missing.

Indonesia is a vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands home to 260 million people. Roads and infrastructure are poor in many areas, making access difficult in the best of conditions.

The disaster agency has said that essential aircraft can land at Palu's airport, though AirNav, which oversees aircraft navigation, said the runway was cracked and the control tower damaged.  

A family sleeps in front of a restaurant in Palu on Sunday as thousands of people in the coastal city have been left homeless by the natural disaster

A family sleeps in front of a restaurant in Palu on Sunday as thousands of people in the coastal city have been left homeless by the natural disaster

People view the damage at the beach hit by tsunami as a road can be seen to be completely collapsed into the floodwater around the shore at Palu

People view the damage at the beach hit by tsunami as a road can be seen to be completely collapsed into the floodwater around the shore at Palu

Indonesian Air Force members stand in line as they prepare to board a military plane on its way to join emergency efforts in the coastal disaster area

Indonesian Air Force members stand in line as they prepare to board a military plane on its way to join emergency efforts in the coastal disaster area

Relief efforts are struggling to get through to most areas because of damage to airports, roads and rails with local rescuers in Sulawesi desperate for more support

Relief efforts are struggling to get through to most areas because of damage to airports, roads and rails with local rescuers in Sulawesi desperate for more support

Government officials said they expected the death toll to rise on Sunday despite it doubling to 832 over the weekend as more and more bodies are found in the rubble of destroyed buildings

Government officials said they expected the death toll to rise on Sunday despite it doubling to 832 over the weekend as more and more bodies are found in the rubble of destroyed buildings

Indonesian workers load donations into a military transport aircraft as those in affected areas are lacking the most basic necessities to survive

Indonesian workers load donations into a military transport aircraft as those in affected areas are lacking the most basic necessities to survive

A woman carries a meager ration of fuel away from a filling station after queuing for hours to get a supply in crisis-racked Palu, Indonesia on Sunday

A woman carries a meager ration of fuel away from a filling station after queuing for hours to get a supply in crisis-racked Palu, Indonesia on Sunday

The collapsed dome of a mosque in Palu which was brought down in the huge earthquake on Friday as some of the city's most notable landmarks fell victim to the tremors

The collapsed dome of a mosque in Palu which was brought down in the huge earthquake on Friday as some of the city's most notable landmarks fell victim to the tremors

Residents make their way along a street full of debris, including the wreckage of a shipping container. Power lines have come down and in the background is a mosque which was a badly damaged by the 20ft waves 

Residents make their way along a street full of debris, including the wreckage of a shipping container. Power lines have come down and in the background is a mosque which was a badly damaged by the 20ft waves 

Palu city is built around a narrow bay that apparently magnified the force of the tsunami waters as they raced into the tight inlet

Palu city is built around a narrow bay that apparently magnified the force of the tsunami waters as they raced into the tight inlet

Nugroho described the damage as 'extensive' with thousands of houses, hospitals, shopping malls and hotels collapsed, a bridge washed away and the main highway to Palu cut due to a landslide 

Nugroho described the damage as 'extensive' with thousands of houses, hospitals, shopping malls and hotels collapsed, a bridge washed away and the main highway to Palu cut due to a landslide 

Many survivors have spent the last days desperately searching for loved ones while dealing with the trauma of the disaster.

One survivor, Adi, was hugging his wife by the beach when the tsunami struck on Friday. He has no idea where she is now, or whether she is alive.

'When the wave came, I lost her,' he said. 'I was carried about 50 metres. I couldn't hold anything,' he said.

Others have centred their search for loved ones around open-air morgues, where the dead lay in the baking sun - waiting to be claimed, waiting to be named.

As dire as the situation in Palu is, it was at least clear. In outlying areas, the fate of thousands is still unknown. 

Questions are sure to be asked why warning systems set up after that disaster appear to have failed on Friday. 

Nugroho, bemoaning a fall in funding, said none of Indonesia's tsunami buoys, one type of instrument used to detect the waves, had been operating since 2012.

The meteorological and geophysics agency BMKG issued a tsunami warning after the quake but lifted it 34 minutes later, drawing criticism it had been too hasty. However, officials estimated the waves had hit while the warning was in force.

Neighbours including Australia, Thailand and China offered help and Pope Francis, speaking to thousands in St. Peter's Square, said he was praying for the victims.

The European Union announced 1.5 million euros in immediate aid.

Some people climbed trees to escape the tsunami and survived the towering waves caused by the two earthquakes: the first, a 6.1 magnitude quake hit the densely populated region on Friday morning, and was quickly followed by even fiercer 7.5 magnitude tremors

Some people climbed trees to escape the tsunami and survived the towering waves caused by the two earthquakes: the first, a 6.1 magnitude quake hit the densely populated region on Friday morning, and was quickly followed by even fiercer 7.5 magnitude tremors

A woman cries as people begin to realise the extent of the damage and the number of casualties after an earthquake and a tsunami hit Palu. Thousands of buildings have been damaged, with some entirely swept away or demolished, leaving scores of families missing among the debris

A woman cries as people begin to realise the extent of the damage and the number of casualties after an earthquake and a tsunami hit Palu. Thousands of buildings have been damaged, with some entirely swept away or demolished, leaving scores of families missing among the debris

Many of those killed in Palu were swept away by giant waves more than 20ft high as they played on the beach in the scenic tourist town. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency warned early on of reports showing that 'victims died in the rubble of a collapsed building'

Many of those killed in Palu were swept away by giant waves more than 20ft high as they played on the beach in the scenic tourist town. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency warned early on of reports showing that 'victims died in the rubble of a collapsed building'

Fears are mounting for the the fishing town of Donggala, which was closer to the epicentre of the quake, but which rescuers have not been able to reach. 

Fears are mounting for the the fishing town of Donggala, which was closer to the epicentre of the quake, but which rescuers have not been able to reach. 

Indonesian media said Sunday that 832 people had died in Palu City, on the the Indonesian island of Sulawesi after two earthquakes in quick succession caused a tsunami that sent locals fleeing their homes.

Indonesian media said Sunday that 832 people had died in Palu City, on the the Indonesian island of Sulawesi after two earthquakes in quick succession caused a tsunami that sent locals fleeing their homes.

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.