As the steep death toll climbed, the grim search for remains in the rubble left by Indonesia’s volcano-triggered tsunami continued Monday.

At least 373 people have been confirmed dead and more than 1,400 injured in Saturday night’s disaster, and those numbers are expected to rise.

Rescuers used heavy machinery and their bare hands to comb through debris in the stricken area in the Sunda Strait. They searched for bodies and victims who may still be trapped under the debris.

“The military and police are searching the ruins to see if we can find more victims,” said Dody Ruswandi, a senior official at the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, adding that the rescue effort was likely to last a week.

Thousands of people on the islands of Java and Sumatra were evacuated to higher ground, as experts warned that more deadly waves could strike the area. A high-tide warning was extended to Wednesday.

President Joko Widodo visited the affected area Monday and praised authorities for their quick response.

“The speed and accuracy in the field is to be appreciated,” he said.

The tsunami is believed to have been triggered by an underwater landslide caused by the eruption of the Anak Krakatau volcano, which sits roughly halfway between the affected islands.

It struck the coast without warning, destroying hundreds of buildings.

Tsunamis caused by earthquakes trigger an official alert system but ones caused by volcanoes don’t.

With Post wires