The World Health Organization issued a warning that the outbreak of an epidemic could bring a second wave of casualties to the disaster area, so the authorities felt there was no choice but to bury the dead in mass graves as quickly as possible. Indonesia's highest Islamic authorities also repeatedly appealed to the people to forgo traditional practices such as wrapping the deceased in white cloth in favor of immediate burial.
由於世界衛生組織警告災區可能因疫情爆發而帶來第二波死亡潮，當局不得不以集體掩埋的方式快速處理，印尼最高回教組織也不斷呼籲民眾，要放下為死者纏裹白布等宗教葬儀，將屍體立即掩埋。