Jakarta – The death toll from devastating floods and landslides on Indonesia's eastern Sulawesi island has risen to 107, as aid distribution to survivors gained pace Friday, an official said.

Forty-four bodies have been recovered but 63 people remain missing, presumed buried under landslides, said Rustam Pakaya, who heads the health ministry's crisis centre in Jakarta.

Aid efforts were finally gaining momentum after days of poor weather hindering attempts to reach survivors, he said. "A navy and cargo ship have arrived to distribute aid," he told AFP, adding that 25 medical staff were also on location helping survivors.

One village of about 1,000 people in Central Sulawesi's Mamosolato district remained isolated but a helicopter provided by a mining company working in the area would hopefully reach them on Friday, Pakaya said.

Officials have said at least 45,000 people were affected by the floods, which have hit in an area known for rampant deforestation.

Indonesia has been repeatedly afflicted by deadly floods in recent years, with activists warning that logging and a failure to reforest denuded land in the world's fourth most populous country will continue to cause tragedies.