Indonesia Tsunami: Drone Images Capture True Devastation of Indonesian Disaster
Indonesia's Sulawesi island destroyed following 7.5-magnitude earthquake
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Breathtaking drone images have captured the true devastation in Indonesia following the 7.5 magnitude earthquake that triggered a tsunami to engulf the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Friday.
With many of the affected areas now inaccessible, photographs and videos recorded from above have highlighted the full extent of the devastating natural disaster which has leveled buildings and killed over 1,200 people.
Hundreds of Sulawesi people are reportedly still trapped in mud and around 1,700 homes have been swallowed up and washed away by waves reaching up to 20 feet high.
Gaint mass graves are being dug out by local in an desperate bid to reduce the spread of disease, with one grave measuring 10 meters wide by 100 meters long.
In an attempt to identify their missing family members, survivors are forced to comb through the mass of body bags.
Photographs taken by a drone show a huge ship washed ashore and stranded after being tossed inland by the tsunami.
Cars can be seen scattered across streets and lodged in buildings while a mosque was totally destroyed by powerful waves sparked by the massive tremor.
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According to the Daily Mail, Many flights in and out of Palu airport have been canceled due to hundreds of people blocking the runway, begging to flee the island.
Indonesia's national disaster mitigation chief Willem Rampangilei told the ABC bodies must be buried as soon as possible for 'health and religious reasons'.
A 38-year-old man was pulled alive from the ruins three days after the deadly quake.
Sapri Nusin was conscious and speaking to his rescuers as he was saved by National Search and Rescue Agency workers from a destroyed finance building, footage captured by Indonesian television stations showed.
A 25-year-old woman was found alive on Sunday morning in the rubble of the Roa-Roa Hotel.
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Australia stands ready to help Indonesia during the aftermath of the 'horrific' earthquake and tsunami.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said if there is a request to help, Australia will step in.
'This is just a terrible tragedy,' Morrison said this week.
'I think it's important that all of our empathy and our thoughts are with them in what must be a most horrific time.'
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The death toll is expected to rise as connections to outlying areas are restored.
'I've been in direct contact with President (Joko) Widodo about this. Australia stands ready to assist as is needed,' Mr. Morrison said.
'I think as a good friend of Indonesia, it's important that all Australians I think continue to show their strong empathy and support, which President Widodo indicated to me very clearly they are very grateful for.'
Mr. Morrison said there has been no request for help so far, but Australia is preparing contingencies in case help is needed.
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Terrifying footage filmed from the metal roof of a house showed large buildings and electricity pylons ripped from their foundations due to 'liquefaction' of the ground.
Liquefaction is a phenomenon in which the strength of soil is reduced by an earthquake, causing it to flow like a liquid.
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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.
