"They said because of avoiding widespread panic, the real numbers were not being put in the media."
Well, seeing as Indonesia first said the quake was a 6 or 7 I wouldn't put it past them. A totalitarian gov't that wants everyone to think everything is perfect, we can handle it, etc.
However, I think with the massive destruction a true number will never be known. By the time disease takes over it could get to 1 million.
Good point about the initial wrong quake magnitude.
And you're probably right about never knowing a true figure--seems it would be just about impossible.