JAKARTA, Oct. 4 (CGTN) -- A total of 1,558 people have been confirmed as dead after the monster earthquake struck last week, sending destructive waves barreling into Sulawesi island in Indonesia, according to the disaster management agency on Friday.

The disaster reduced buildings in the seaside city of Palu to rubble. And with transport links badly affected, aid has been slow to arrive, and people have surrendered to looting.

As rescuers comb through the ruins of the destroyed buildings, hope is fading that anyone will be found alive.

Authorities set a tentative deadline of Friday to find anyone still trapped under rubble, after which chances of finding survivors will dwindle to almost zero.

More than 25 countries have offered assistance after Indonesian President Joko Widodo appealed for international help.