Rescue operations are ongoing to locate numerous students believed to be trapped beneath the debris of a collapsed school in East Java, Indonesia. The death toll has reached six following the incident, with five survivors rescued after being located through a tunnel dug under the building.
The Islamic boarding school, undergoing unauthorized construction to add two new stories, collapsed during prayers, resulting in heavy concrete slabs crashing down on the students. Over 300 workers are tirelessly working to reach those still alive and trapped below.
Efforts are focused on reaching individuals detected to be alive under the unstable rubble. Rescuers are cautious with heavy equipment to prevent further collapse, utilizing oxygen, water, and food deliveries to sustain those awaiting rescue. Thermal drones and detectors are being employed to locate potential survivors.
The collapsed structure primarily affected male students aged 12 to 18, while female students in a separate area managed to escape. The expansion without proper authorization led to the building’s structural failure during construction. The number of missing individuals was revised to 91 after initial reports suggested 38, highlighting the challenges posed by the disaster.
