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, while students were engaging in afternoon prayers. Rescue operations involving hundreds of responders equipped with various tools have been ongoing.
The death toll climbed to 14 on Friday as recovery teams recovered several bodies from beneath the debris. Numerous students are still missing, indicating a potential increase in the casualty count. Rescuers transitioned from manual searches to utilizing heavy excavators to aid in the operation.
By Friday evening, nine bodies had been recovered, bringing the confirmed death toll to 14, with nearly 50 students yet to be located. Among the discovered bodies, two were found in the prayer hall and one closer to an exit, suggesting an attempt to escape.
The students present during the collapse were reportedly male students aged 12 to 19 in grades seven to 12. Female students who were in a different part of the building managed to evacuate safely. Survivors recounted their harrowing experience, with injuries ranging from minor to severe trauma.
Authorities revealed that the building, initially a two-story structure, was undergoing expansion with two additional levels. The foundation’s inability to support the new construction led to the tragic collapse. School officials have refrained from commenting on the incident.
Suharyanto from Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency mentioned that the recovery operation is anticipated to conclude by Saturday. The survivors and families affected by the devastating event continue to receive medical care and support.
