The death toll from the Sept. 30 earthquake in West Sumatra has reached 704, but the government estimates 1,000 people have been killed in the disaster that devastated the province.
The national disaster management agency said Wednesday the death toll had been increasing at a slow pace over the past few days as lack of equipment hampered search efforts, particularly in areas isolated by the disaster.
The local government’s disaster management board has also recorded 746 people who were severely injured and 255 people who are still missing.