The search for survivors was called off yesterday in the earthquake-hit capital of Indonesia's West Sumatra province, as people stopped aid convoys and took supplies by force in desperation due to the scarcity of help, officials and aid workers said.
"The search has been halted in Padang, but in other areas it is continuing," said Priyadi Kardono, a spokesman for the National Agency for Disaster Management. Padang, the capital of West Sumatra, is one of six districts badly hit by the earthquake.
Hotels, schools, and government buildings were among the structures damaged by the quake.
Mr Kardono said workers in Padang had been ordered to clear the rubble of collapsed buildings, where many were believed trapped, and collect bodies.
Meanwhile, desperate survivors in Padang Pariaman, a district near the provincial capital hard hit by the quake,hijacked aid convoys and took away supplies, a doctor working in the area, Ridwan Gustiana, said.
"There's a lot of anger among survivors because they have not received any assistance," said the doctor, who worked with the Ibu Foundation aid group.
Meanwhile, health officials are racing to prevent outbreaks of disease in quakeaffected areas.
Heavy rain soaked quake-hit areas yesterday morning, wiping dust from the air but bringing more misery to those whose homes were destroyed in last week's 7.6-magnitude earthquake.
The head of the Health Ministry's crisis centre, Rustam Pakaya, estimated the death toll at more than 1,200.
"Our health officials are monitoring closely the health of the survivors and the environmental conditions," he said.
"We have sprayed disinfectants in quake-affected areas to prevent the spread of diseases."
Many victims were believed to be still trapped under collapsed buildings or buried by landslides triggered by the earthquake, Mr Pakaya said, adding the Health Ministry had sent shipments of 13 tons of baby food in the form of biscuits and 1,000 body bags.
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