(Video by Zhao Yipu, edited by Wang Xiangyu)

Bangkok (People’s Daily) - Rescuers are racing against time to reach victims of last Friday's earthquake still trapped under rubble two days after the disaster. Meanwhile, the death toll continued to rise as more bodies were found.

Some remote areas have yet to be contacted, medicines are running out and rescuers are struggling with a shortage of heavy equipment to reach desperate victims calling out from the ruins of collapsed buildings.

In response, President Joko Widodo opened the door to the dozens of international aid agencies and NGOs lined up to provide live-saving assistance.

"Last night, President @jokowi authorized us to accept international help for urgent disaster-response & relief," senior government official Tom Lembong wrote on Twitter, asking rescuers to contact him directly via his account and email.

His comments, made during his visit to parts of the provincial capital Palu, came as the death toll rose to more than 1,200 on Monday.

(With input from AFP)