The number of people killed by earthquakes and tsunamis in Indonesia increased to over 1,200

The number of deaths due to disaster in Indonesia increased as rescue forces approached the scene and discovered many bodies under the rubble.

Indonesia's National Disaster Response Agency (BNPB) yesterday said the number of people killed in the double disaster on earthquake and tsunami on September 28 reached more than 1,200 people and is expected to continue to increase, according to the Straits Times.

People in Palu stand in front of a collapsed house after the earthquake.(Photo: Reuters).

Rescuers Indonesia is racing against time to find victims still trapped under rubble three days after the disaster. Indonesian President Joko Widodo yesterday went to Sulawesi to encourage people here. He called for rescue forces " to work day and night" to save all who could.

About 16,700 people were left homeless by the earthquake and about 2.4 million people in Donggala and Palu needed humanitarian aid."Fuel, medical staff, electricity, food and other necessities are essential for people , " the BNPB spokesman said.

Earlier, emergency rescue teams were unable to reach Palu, the capital of Sulawesi, and suffered the most serious consequences, as the airport runways and air traffic control towers were damaged. However, Mutiara SIS Al-Jufrie Airport yesterday was repaired and cleaned up to receive many relief and commercial flights.

The magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurred off Sulawesi island on the evening of September 28, creating a tsunami that devastated many coastal areas of Palu city and Donggala town. Donggala is a town completely separated by earthquakes, located near the epicenter and authorities are worried that casualties here can be extremely bad.