A school building in Sidoarjo, East Java, Indonesia, collapsed on Monday afternoon while students were engaging in prayers, leading to a mounting death toll, many missing, and a frantic rescue effort as hopes fade.
The Disaster Unfolds
The collapse struck the Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school, which was reportedly undergoing unauthorized expansion work. Students—mostly teenage boys—were gathered in a prayer hall in the lower floors when the structure gave way atop them.
Female students, praying in a separate section, mostly escaped unharmed.
Human Toll & Missing
- Officials have confirmed at least three student deaths.
- The death toll has since been raised to nine as more bodies were pulled from the rubble.
- Over 50 people are still feared trapped beneath debris, with some reports placing the number of missing at 59 or more.
- More than 100 students were injured and hospitalized, some in critical condition.
Parents and families have been gathering at the site, anxiously awaiting word. Some have already given DNA samples to aid in identification efforts.
Rescue Efforts Struggle Against Odds
In the early hours, rescuers worked manually, digging through the rubble by hand, calling out names, and using sensors to detect signs of life. After finding no further signs of life from these methods, authorities approved the use of heavy machinery like cranes and excavators to accelerate debris removal.
However, the operation is precarious: shifting debris and structural instability make heavy equipment use risky. Thermal drones, sensors, and other tools have reportedly failed to detect live presence deeper in the ruins.
What Caused the Collapse
Preliminary assessments point to structural failure caused by ongoing construction. The building’s foundation seems unable to support the added load from the unauthorized expansion to upper floors.
Local reports mention that extra concrete floors were being added, reportedly without proper permits or reinforcement.
Grief, Despair & Fading Hope
With the so-called “golden window” for survivors largely passed, many families are losing hope.
One mother whose son, Muhfi Alfian, is still unaccounted for said her hopes are urgently wavering, especially after hearing no signs of life from deeper inside the rubble.
Distressed relatives have collapsed in sorrow or pleaded for updates at the site, while many remain at risk both physically and emotionally as the search continues.
