An Indonesian official said Saturday around 430 people were likely still buried in the rubble of their houses destroyed by the Monday's powerful earthquake on Nias island, North Sumatra province.
The efforts to evacuate victims on the island were hampered by the lack of heavy machinery, North Sumatra governor Rizal Nurdin was quoted by Detikcom online news service as saying.
On his visit to the Nias regent capital of Gunung Sitoli, Rizal asked survivors who lost their love ones to be patient awaiting heavy machinery support.
People have put many red flags in the debris of houses and buildings in Gunung Sitoli indicating that their relatives were still trapped under the debris.
The government has put the death toll at 320, but said the number could soar after the evacuation process completes.