JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- The death toll from last month's religious riots in Indonesia's "spice islands" is approaching 100, officials said Wednesday.

Authorities said they expected to find more bodies as they dug through the rubble of burned buildings. More than 2,300 structures were destroyed during the weeklong riots that began January 19, including 19 churches and 12 mosques.

"The situation is quiet but tense. Only a few shops are open -- people are still afraid to go to the office," a military spokesman told Reuters.

Information Minister Yunus Yosfiah said after a Cabinet meeting Wednesday that 94 people were confirmed dead, up from 65. Ten of the victims were from riots on Dobo and Sanana islands in Maluku province, and the rest were on the island of Ambon. The region is about 2,300 kilometers (1,400 miles) northeast of Jakarta.

The violence erupted at the close of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, on the first day of the two-day Eid al-Fitr celebration. The clashes reportedly started between residents of the predominantly Christian Batumerah district and the predominately Muslim Mardika district and spread to other parts of Ambon.

Habibie's Cabinet is working on a plan to rebuild the riot-torn region

The riots were the worst since last May, when 1,200 people died during unrest that eventually helped topple then-President Suharto's 32-year rule.

Violence has continued over the past year as Indonesia faces its worst economic and social crisis in 30 years. More unrest is expected leading up to national elections on June 7.

President B.J. Habibie has ordered a team of Cabinet ministers to begin work on a plan to rebuild the riot-torn region, known as the Spice Islands during Dutch colonial rule. Some 20,000 people are still taking refuge at military and police stations, mosques and churches around Ambon.

Also Wednesday, North Sumatra Vice Governor A. Wahab Dalimunthe was quoted as saying that about 200 provocateurs had arrived in Indonesia's second-largest city of Medan to spark similar religious riots.

"I have received information from Jakarta that there are plans to make North Sumatra the second Ambon," he was quoted as saying.

Government and military officials and religious leaders frequently blame mysterious provocateurs for inciting trouble.

The Media Indonesia daily quoted a report from Muslim groups earlier this week that said hundreds of "hoodlums" from Jakarta were responsible for instigating the bloodshed in Ambon.

Copyright 1999 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.

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