Photo: Robertus Pudyanto / Getty Images News / Getty Images
A rescue operation is underway in Sidoarjo, Indonesia, after the Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School collapsed on Monday (September 29) during afternoon prayers. At least three students have died, and dozens are believed to be trapped under the rubble. The collapse occurred in a two-story building that was undergoing unauthorized expansion, according to officials from Indonesia’s National Agency for Disaster Management.
Rescue teams, including police and soldiers, are working tirelessly to save those trapped. They have been providing oxygen and water to survivors while carefully navigating the unstable debris. The building's foundation could not support the additional floors, causing it to collapse. The disaster agency highlighted the need for stricter construction safety standards in a social media post.
The incident has left 99 people hospitalized, some with critical injuries. The victims are mostly boys aged 12 to 17. Families anxiously await news as rescuers work to locate 38 missing students and workers. Rescue efforts were briefly halted due to the risk of further collapse but resumed in the afternoon.
The school's caretaker, KH Abdus Salam Mujib, expressed his apologies to the families, attributing the incident to "God's will." The building's expansion lacked proper permits, and authorities are investigating the cause of the collapse.
As the rescue operation continues, the focus remains on pulling survivors from the rubble. The situation remains tense, with families and rescuers hoping for more positive outcomes in the coming days.