A French rescue team said Thursday it has detected a possible sign of life under the rubble of a hotel in Indonesia's central Sulawesi, nearly a week after it was hit by a powerful earthquake and tsunami. They cautioned that other factors could cause the sensors they use to give a false result.

The confirmed toll exceeded 1,200 dead with hundreds severely injured and still more trapped in debris.

The death toll is expected to keep rising as areas cut off by the damage are reached.