Rescuers rushed to deliver oxygen and water to students trapped under the unstable concrete debris of a collapsed school building in Indonesia. They tirelessly worked to free survivors on Tuesday morning, over 12 hours following the collapse. Throughout the night, rescue workers, police, and soldiers tirelessly dug to retrieve eight weak and injured survivors from the Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School in Sidoarjo, East Java.
Tragically, at least three students lost their lives, and numerous others sustained injuries, with dozens presumed to be buried under the rubble. The death toll is expected to increase, as indicated by rescuers. Initially reported as 65 missing individuals, the number was later revised to 38 by midday, according to National Disaster Management Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari.
On Monday, a 13-year-old male student was found deceased, while 102 students and teachers were injured, some critically, and transported to hospitals. By Tuesday, 75 students and two teachers remained hospitalized, with two male students succumbing to their injuries at Notopuro General Hospital. Among the 11 students rescued alive from the debris, two lost their lives during treatment, with one student undergoing arm amputation and two others requiring head injury surgeries.
Rescue operations briefly halted at 10:15 a.m. due to sudden tremors in the collapsed structure, prompting evacuations for safety. After the area was deemed secure, operations recommenced around 1:45 p.m. Distressed families gathered at hospitals and near the site, anxiously awaiting updates on their children. Heart-wrenching scenes unfolded as dusty, injured students were rescued from the rubble.
The student population primarily consisted of boys in grades seven to eleven, aged between 12 and 17. Search and rescue efforts faced challenges from heavy concrete slabs and unstable building components hindering progress, as heavy equipment remained unused to prevent further collapses.
Search and rescue officer Nanang Sigit emphasized the ongoing delivery of essentials like oxygen and water to sustain those still trapped, prioritizing the rescue of survivors over the recovery of bodies. Despite spotting several casualties under the debris, the focus remained on saving lives. The operation involved hundreds of rescuers dedicated to the mission.
The collapse occurred during afternoon prayers in a section of the building undergoing unauthorized expansion, as disclosed by provincial police spokesperson Jules Abraham Abast. Residents and school staff aided injured students, many with severe injuries. Female students in a different area managed to evade the disaster.
Authorities launched an investigation into the collapse’s cause, revealing that the old prayer hall, originally two stories, was undergoing unauthorized construction of two additional levels. Abast highlighted that the foundation of the old structure was insufficient to support the added floors, leading to the tragic collapse.
