Rescue teams in Sidoarjo, Indonesia, report “no signs of life” beneath the debris of a collapsed two-storey Islamic boarding school, where 59 individuals remain unaccounted for. The incident occurred on Monday when the structure, which was under construction, collapsed while hundreds of older teenage students were present. At least five students have been confirmed dead, and around 100 others sustained injuries.
Since the onset of rescue efforts, 13 people have been rescued from the wreckage; however, two of those individuals later died in the hospital. Authorities have faced significant challenges in the rescue operations due to the unstable condition of the wrecked building. On Thursday, officials from Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency (BNBP) indicated that thermal drones used to scan the area did not show signs of life. BNBP Chief Lt Gen Suharyanto stated, “Scientifically, no signs of life were found.”
Given the circumstances, the rescue team has initiated the “next phase” of their operations, which will involve the use of heavy machinery to remove large concrete slabs from the site. This step was previously withheld due to concerns that it might lead to further collapse and endanger potential survivors. Earlier reports suggested that sounds of distress could still be heard coming from beneath the rubble, leading families of the missing to retain hope.
Families are currently gathered near the site, anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones, with some expressing optimism about the possibility of survival. The BNBP has emphasized that the number of individuals believed to be trapped has varied throughout the rescue effort, citing the challenges of accurate data collection in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.
The building’s collapse has drawn scrutiny as it was reportedly undergoing construction to add additional floors, despite allegations that school management did not have the necessary permits for such modifications. Authorities have stated that the weak foundation was unable to support the added weight.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8d783yjvpyo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss