A Soaring Death Toll in Indonesia in the Wake of Double Whammy Natural Disasters

The grim reality of an increasing death toll is now taking hold over Indonesia in the wake of double whammy natural disasters - earthquake and tsunami, last Friday. Sadly, the confirmed dead has now climbed to 832, with fears that that number could end in the thousands.

The BBC-News reported earlier today that recovery and rescue efforts are discovering grim realities of people trapped in fallen buildings and scores of dead along the coast following the 7.5 earthquake and ensuing tsunami that cascaded water of over 20-feet into the city of Palu on the island of Sulawesi.

Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla is cited by the BBC-News as fearing the final death toll could be thousands. The nation has called for heavy machinery to clear rubble. Many of Palu's 335,000 population is missing and great concern also surrounds the condition of the town of Donggala, where the full impact of the tragedy is still unclear, the BBC-News reported.

The Red Cross estimates that more than 1.6 million have been affected by the earthquake and tsunami. Strong aftershocks continue to fear residents. Again we offer comfort and strength to the Indonesian people and a hope that they should find the resolve to rebuild.