The Indonesian government is considering turning areas devastated by the earthquake and tsunami into mass graves, as the death toll rises to 1,649.

Security minister Wiranto said victims' families are being consulted about the possibility of halting the search for bodies in the city of Palu even though at least 265 people remain missing.

Describing the dead as "martyrs", he said rescue efforts are being hampered because it is not safe to operate heavy equipment in the neighbourhoods of Balaroa and Petobo.

The 7.5-magnitude earthquake on 28 September liquefied the soft soil, swallowing up homes and potentially burying hundreds of victims.

President Joko Widodo has previously said all of the victims must be found but rescuers have estimated it may take four to five months.

It came as Buckingham Palace confirmed the Queen has made her own "private donation" to the fundraising appeal launched by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC).

Meanwhile international aid crews continued to arrived in Palu to help local search teams.

In the crumpled neighbourhood of Balaroa, body bags were laid out in a row and mourners placed long pieces of white cloth, to represent a Muslim burial rite, inside.

Among them was 39-year-old Rudy Rahman, who said the bodies of his 18 and 16-year-old sons had been found. His youngest son remains missing.

"They were found in front of my brother's house opposite the mosque," Mr Rahman said. "They found them holding each other. These two brothers were hugging each other."

Many children were in the mosque at the time of the quake for Koran recitation. An assistant to the imam had said none survived.

In the village of Pewunu, excited children shouted "Red Cross! Red Cross!" as one of the aid group's medical teams set up a makeshift clinic in a field.

Volunteers laid out a big white tarpaulin on a stage in front of the village office, set a green desk on it and interviewed people about their needs as dozens milled around.

One villager said they survived by ransacking shops.

Doctors performed medical checks on elderly residents who emerged from tents and climbed the stage's stairs with canes or others supporting them.

People living in the camp said they had clean water and noodles but not much else.

"There were supplies, but these were looted. All along the roads toward here, they were looted by outsiders," said Bahamid Fawzi.

"All this while in this crisis, we don't have water, we don't have food," he said. "After that, we started ransacking the stores and the shops. Not because we're thieves, but because we really needed it. There's no water, no food - like it or not, we had to do it."

Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue Show all 30 1 /30 Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue Residents and rescuers walk in front of a washed out passenger ferry in Wani following the September 28 earthquake and tsunami. Aid poured into disaster-ravaged Palu after days of delays as efforts ramped up to reach 200,000 people in desperate need AFP/Getty Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue Indonesian rescuers try to free a 15-year-old earthquake survivor, Nurul Istikhomah from the flooded ruins of a collapsed house in Palu EPA Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue A rescue team searches for bodies under the ruin of a house in Balaroa EPA Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue A ship stranded on the shore EPA Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue Indonesians stand among debris at Mamboro village in Palu EPA Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue Residents carry a victim AFP/Getty Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue Residents trying to salvage belongings from their homes which collapsed AFP/Getty Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue Indonesian soldiers bury quake victims in a mass grave in Poboya AFP/Getty Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue A damaged mosque AFP/Getty Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue A man sits on the rubble of a house AFP/Getty Images Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue Rescuers walk past debris AFP/Getty Images Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue Jumadil, 5, reacts at seeing his mother Susi Rahmatia, 26, after he went missing for seven days AFP/Getty Images Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue A woman builds a temporary toilet AFP/Getty Images Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue Rahmat Raidi, 26, shows portraits of his missing family members AFP/Getty Images Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue Residents queue before receiving humanitarian aid in Palu AFP/Getty Images Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue Indonesian villagers offload aid from a military helicopter in Proo village, Lindu district AFP/Getty Images Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue Residents stand among houses destroyed by a landslide that was triggered by the earthquake in Petobo outside Palu EPA Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue People queue for fuel at a petrol station in Palu Reuters Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue Members of the Indonesian Red Cross attend to a victim at a crushed house at Talise beach in Palu EPA Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue Residents walk among houses destroyed by a landslide that was triggered by the earthquake in Petobo, outside Palu EPA Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue An Indonesian Police Officer uses a dog to search for victims amongst rubble in Petobo, outside Palu Reuters Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue An Indonesian rescue team searches for victims and survivors amongst the rubble of the Roa Roa hotel in Palu Reuters Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue A crowd gathers at the airport in Palu in the hope of fleeing by plane Getty Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue Members of an Indonesian rescue team look for survivors in a collapsed home in Palu AFP/Getty Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue Bhayangkara hospital in Palu Reuters Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue Members of an Indonesian rescue team look for survivors in a collapsed home in Palu AFP/Getty Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue An earthquake damaged bridge in Palu Reuters Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue People drive amongst the damage in Palu Reuters Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue Indonesian women stand on a tsunami devastated area of Talise beach Palu EPA Indonesian earthquake: rescue efforts continue Members of an Indonesian rescue team look for survivors in a collapsed home in Palu AFP/Getty

Arnaud Allibert, from the Pompiers Humanitaires Francais rescue organisation, said it could take four to five months to find all the bodies.

"If we see body parts sticking out, we're going to dig to get the body out ... It's a long-term job, but after that, they'll come with the heavy machinery," he told Reuters.

"The excavators can't take huge amounts of soil because there are bodies underneath, you have to scrape the earth carefully."

The United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs said more than £38 million is required to deliver "immediate, life-saving" aid.

UK international development secretary Penny Mordaunt has pledged £3m in aid to support immediate relief efforts on the ground.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the appeal can do so via the DEC website, the 24-hour hotline on 0370 60 60 900, or donate over the counter at any high street bank or post office. A £5 donation can also be made by texting SUPPORT to 70000.