Jakarta, Indonesia ? Villagers and rescue teams searched for survivors on an Indonesian island hit by floods and landslides Thursday as the death toll climbed to 178, officials said.

More than 135 other people were missing in southern districts of Sulawesi island, with many feared swept out to sea.

In the worst-hit region of Sinjai, 168 people had been killed, according to information posted on a board outside an emergency relief center there. At least 10 others died in neighboring regions, officials said.

The flash floods and landslides were triggered by incessant rains since Monday, and the government has promised an investigation into claims that illegal logging may have been a contributory factor.