At least 14 individuals lost their lives following the collapse of a school building in Indonesia earlier this week. The incident occurred at an Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo, East Java province during afternoon prayers attended by students and teachers. Rescue efforts involving hundreds of personnel equipped with necessary tools have been ongoing.
The death toll has reached 14 as recovery teams recovered multiple bodies from the debris. Many students are still missing, indicating that the casualty count is likely to increase. Search operations transitioned to using heavy excavators with jackhammers after no signs of survivors were detected by Thursday.
By Friday evening, nine bodies were found, bringing the confirmed death toll to 14, while nearly 50 students are still unaccounted for. Notably, two bodies were discovered in the prayer hall area and one near an exit, suggesting an attempt to escape. The students affected were reportedly boys between the ages of 12 and 19, with female students managing to evacuate safely.
Survivors recounted harrowing experiences, with one student, Rizalul Qoib, expressing gratitude for escaping with minor injuries. He described the moment when the building collapsed during prayers, leading to chaos and darkness before finding a way out through the rubble.
Injuries sustained by those who managed to escape included severe head trauma and broken bones, with several still receiving medical treatment. Authorities revealed that the school building, initially two stories high, was undergoing expansion with two additional levels, which may have contributed to the structural failure.
As investigations continue, school officials have refrained from commenting on the incident. Recovery operations are expected to conclude by the end of Saturday, according to Suharyanto from Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency.