BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The death toll from an earthquake and tsunami on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi rose to 832, according to reports on Sunday.The national disaster mitigation agency confirmed the death toll rose to 832 and is still expected to rise. The agency also assessed that the affected area is bigger than initially thought.
According to reports, dozens of people were trapped in the rubble of collapsed buildings due to the 7.5 magnitude earthquake, which struck the Indonesian island of Sulawesi over the weekend and triggered tsunami waves as high as six meters and around 170 aftershocks.
Search and rescue teams are working to retrieve around 50 people trapped under the ruins of the Roa Roa hotel in Palu, according to the agency’s reports.
The residents of the capital city of Palu currently have no electricity and are short on drinking water after the pipes were damaged due to the earthquake. Fuel is also running low.
Additionally, aid and supplies are being sent to badly affected areas in military and commercial aircrafts.
The 7.5 magnitude earthquake is the most devastating earthquake to hit Indonesia since 2004.