Rescue operations are underway following the collapse of a school building in East Java, Indonesia, which occurred during a prayer session attended by students. The incident at Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School in Sidoarjo has resulted in three confirmed deaths and 99 individuals hospitalized, some with serious injuries. Among the injured, at least 38 students, primarily teenage boys, remain trapped beneath the rubble.
Preliminary investigations by the disaster mitigation agency indicate that the two-storey structure had an unstable foundation and was unable to support additional floors. Reports state that the girls in the building were in a different section and successfully evacuated. The students affected are aged between 12 and 17 years.
Rescue teams are facing challenges due to the building’s collapsed state, described as resembling a “pancake type structure,” which has left narrow voids that complicate the search for survivors. Authorities have expressed concerns regarding the use of heavy machinery, such as cranes, as they might further endanger trapped individuals.
Families of the victims have gathered at the site, anxiously awaiting updates. Survivors, detailing their escapes, recounted hearing a series of rumbling sounds before the building collapsed. One seventh grader mentioned being struck by debris but managed to get free.
The school’s caretaker has apologized for the tragedy, attributing it to an act of God, while the local regent noted that the school’s management had not acquired the necessary permits for the building’s expansion. Al Khoziny school, like many Islamic boarding schools or pesantren in Indonesia, operates under the Ministry of Religious Affairs, which may result in limited oversight and regulation, particularly in construction standards. Concerns about the safety record of Indonesia’s construction industry are persistent, as highlighted by a similar incident earlier this month in West Java that resulted in fatalities and injuries.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj4y0zpvp8go?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss