SIDOARJO, East Java — The confirmed death toll from the collapse of a school building in Sidoarjo has risen to 14 as search teams recover more bodies from the ruins of the Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school. Dozens of students remain missing beneath the debris, and officials have warned the count may rise further.
Collapse During Afternoon Prayers
The tragedy struck on Monday afternoon, when a two-story prayer hall—part of a building undergoing unpermitted expansion—gave way while students were assembled for prayers. Many were reportedly boys aged between 12 and 19, attending grades 7 through 12.
Female students, praying in a separate section, mostly escaped unharmed.
Officials believe the collapse occurred because the original foundation could not support the extra concrete being added during the expansion.
Recovery Efforts Escalate Amid Grim Conditions
At first, rescuers attempted search operations by hand, calling out names and carefully sifting through rubble in case any survivors remained. But by Thursday—with no signs of life detected—they shifted to using heavy excavators and jackhammers to accelerate debris removal.
On Friday, they recovered nine bodies, bringing the total confirmed to 14. Among those found were two in the prayer hall and one near an exit, suggesting that victim may have tried to flee.
In many areas, crews battled intense heat and unstable rubble, and the odor of decomposing bodies hung over portions of the site.
The head of Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency, Suharyanto, said nearly 50 students are still unaccounted for and that recovery operations are expected to wrap up by Saturday.
Survivor Accounts & Injuries
One survivor, 13-year-old Rizalul Qoib, recounted how he escaped: feeling the ground shake mid-prayer, hearing rubble fall above him, then following voices and light toward a narrow gap in the wreckage until he broke free.
Scores of rescued students remain in hospital care, many with severe head trauma and broken bones.
As of the latest reports, about 104 students survived the collapse.
Investigations & Accountability
Authorities are investigating the collapse, with scrutiny on the unauthorized construction underway. The school had attempted to add two more stories without proper permits or structural reinforcement.
Experts suspect the original foundation and lower structure could not bear the extra weight, leading to structural failure under the added load.
Families of the missing children are demanding explanations and accountability, as the collapse renews worries about building safety, especially in institutions run with minimal oversight.
