Indonesia’s death toll from the earthquake and tsunami which struck on Friday has risen to 1,234, according to officials.

The figures come after the bodies of 34 students were found in a destroyed church which was hit by a landslide during a bible camp in the mountainous Sigi Biromaru region.

The Indonesian government has begun mass burials for victims – most found in the city of Palu.

Four days after the quake, survivors have said they have been forced to loot from shops as supplies have not been arriving in many stricken areas.

The community of Balaroa has received no government help and anger is simmering among its residents.

Many people are believed trapped under shattered houses in the area, where the earthquake caused the ground to heave up and down violently. One official described the twisted buildings and rubble as looking like the town had been “blended”.

“I and about 50 other people in Balaroa were able to save ourselves by riding on a mound of soil which was getting higher and higher,” resident Siti Hajat told MetroTV, adding her house was destroyed.

On Monday about 3,000 residents flocked to Palu's airport, trying to board military aircraft or one of the few commercial flights using the facility only partially operating due to damage.

Video showed some of them screaming in anger because they were not able to get on a departing military plane.

“We have not eaten for three days!” one woman yelled. “We just want to be safe.”

Nearly 50,000 people have been displaced from their homes in Palu alone, Nugroho said, and hospitals were overwhelmed.

According to the UN almost 200,000 people are now in need of urgent assistance.

On Monday night four more earthquakes measuring between 5.0 and 6.0 magnitude hit Indonesia near Sumba Island over 700 miles away from north Sulawesi where Friday’s quake struck.

The initial earthquake measured 7.5 on the richter scale, levelling buildings, causing landslides and destroying roads. It triggered a tsunami with waves measuring up to 6m (20ft) high.

Victims in several areas including Sigi and Balaroa are yet to be counted, meaning the death toll is expected to rise further.

Indonesia quake and tsunami in pictures Show all 17 1 /17 Indonesia quake and tsunami in pictures Indonesia quake and tsunami in pictures A handout photo made available by the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) shows an aerial image of Palu city harbor in Palu, central Sulawesi, Indonesia, 29 September 2018 after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake and tsunami hit Palu, central Sulawesi, Indonesia, 28 September 2018. According to BNPB the death toll from the Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami has jumped to 384 as the number might be keep rising EPA Indonesia quake and tsunami in pictures A handout photo made available by the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) shows an aerial image of the coastal area of Palu city, central Sulawesi, Indonesia, 29 September 2018 after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake and tsunami hit Palu, central Sulawesi, Indonesia, 28 September 2018. According to BNPB the death toll from the Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami has jumped to 384 as the number might be keep rising. EPA Indonesia quake and tsunami in pictures A handout photo made available by the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) shows an aerial image of the coastal area of Palu city, central Sulawesi, Indonesia, 29 September 2018 after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake and tsunami hit Palu, central Sulawesi, Indonesia, 28 September 2018. According to BNPB the death toll from the Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami has jumped to 384 as the number might be keep rising. EPA Indonesia quake and tsunami in pictures A man surveys the damage caused by earthquake and tsunami in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. The powerful earthquake rocked the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Friday, triggering a 3-meter-tall (10-foot-tall) tsunami that an official said swept away houses in at least two cities. AP Indonesia quake and tsunami in pictures A mosque is seen heavily damaged by earthquake and tsunami in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. The powerful earthquake rocked the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Friday, triggering a 3-meter-tall (10-foot-tall) tsunami that an official said swept away houses in at least two cities. AP Indonesia quake and tsunami in pictures A department store building is seen heavily damaged by earthquake in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. The powerful earthquake rocked the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Friday, triggering a 3-meter-tall (10-foot-tall) tsunami that an official said swept away houses in at least two cities. AP Indonesia quake and tsunami in pictures Indonesian soldiers load emergency supplies into a Hercules military plane before heading to Palu at Halim Perdanakusuma military base in Jakarta, Indonesia, Reuters Indonesia quake and tsunami in pictures The ruin of a mosque badly damaged by earthquake and tsunami is seen in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. The powerful earthquake rocked the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Friday, triggering a 3-meter-tall (10-foot-tall) tsunami that an official said swept away houses in at least two cities. AP Indonesia quake and tsunami in pictures A handout photo made available by the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) shows the collapsed Anutapura hospital after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, 28 September 2018 (issued 29 September 2018). According to BNPB, a series of powerful earthquakes hit Central Sulawesi killing at least one person and injuring dozens. EPA Indonesia quake and tsunami in pictures People walk near the ruins of a shop at the beach after a tsunami hit in Palu, Indonesia Sulawesi Island, Reuters Indonesia quake and tsunami in pictures The ruins of cars as seen after tsunami hit in Palu, Indonesia Reuters Indonesia quake and tsunami in pictures Residents make their way along a street full of debris after an earthquake and tsunami hit Palu, on Sulawesi island on September 29, 2018. - Rescuers scrambled to reach tsunami-hit central Indonesia and assess the damage after a strong quake brought down several buildings and sent locals fleeing their homes for higher ground. AFP/Getty Images Indonesia quake and tsunami in pictures A handout photo made available by the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) shows houses in ruins after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, 28 September 2018 (issued 29 September 2018). According to BNPB, a series of powerful earthquakes hit Central Sulawesi killing at least one person and injuring dozens EPA Indonesia quake and tsunami in pictures A shopping center heavily damaged following an earthquake in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia September Reuters Indonesia quake and tsunami in pictures A handout photo made available by the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) shows houses in ruins after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, 29 September 2018. According to BNPB, a series of powerful earthquakes hit Central Sulawesi killing at least one person and injuring dozens. EPA Indonesia quake and tsunami in pictures Residents trying to salvage belongings from their homes which collapsed after an earthquake and tsunami hit Palu on Sulawesi island on September 29, 2018. - Nearly 400 people were killed when a powerful quake sent a tsunami barrelling into the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, officials said on September 29, as hospitals struggled to cope with hundreds of injured and rescuers scrambled to reach the stricken region AFP/Getty Indonesia quake and tsunami in pictures Medical team members help patients outside a hospital after an earthquake and a tsunami hit Palu, on Sulawesi island on September 29, 2018. - Rescuers scrambled to reach tsunami-hit central Indonesia and assess the damage after a strong quake brought down several buildings and sent locals fleeing their homes for higher ground AFP/Getty

The Indonesian air force confirmed a Hercules aircraft carrying an unspecified number of survivors was able to leave Palu for South Sulawesi's capital of Makassar.

More than 100 police officers from the capital, Jakarta, were sent to Palu and additional Hercules aircraft carrying soldiers and supplies, including food and water, from east Java were en route, local television reported.