At Least 3 Dead, Dozens Trapped After Islamic School Collapse in Indonesia

TDT | Sidoarjo

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Rescue teams raced on Tuesday to save at least 38 people still believed trapped following the collapse of a multi-storey Islamic school building in Sidoarjo, Indonesia, a day earlier. The disaster has already claimed three lives, authorities confirmed.

Tearful families gathered around the flattened structure, desperate for news of their loved ones, as rescuers carefully navigated the unstable concrete rubble. Local reports said the building gave way on Monday while students were gathered for afternoon prayers.

"The number of victims is 102 people, consisting of 99 survivors and 3 deaths," said Mohammad Syafii, head of Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency.

Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), added that 38 people were still unaccounted for, while 77 injured victims had been evacuated to nearby hospitals.

Rescue efforts continue under challenging conditions. Syafii warned that the rubble remains precarious, with concrete pillars stacked dangerously on top of one another. Heavy machinery like cranes and excavators could help speed up the clearing process, he noted, but moving large pieces of concrete could also endanger the lives of any survivors still trapped underneath.

Structural Failure Suspected

Local media quoted a school official saying construction on the building had been ongoing for nine months. Authorities suspect the collapse occurred after the foundation pillars failed to support the weight of additional construction on the school’s fourth floor.

Abdul Muhari called for stricter safety standards and urged building managers and the public to monitor construction practices closely to prevent similar tragedies.

Concerns over lax construction standards are common in Indonesia, where partially completed structures are often left with the intention of adding floors later when funds permit.

This incident follows a recent pattern of deadly collapses in the country. Earlier this month, three people died and dozens were injured when a building hosting a prayer recital collapsed in West Java. In 2018, seven teenagers were killed during a musical rehearsal in Cirebon when the building they were in collapsed, and the same year, at least 75 people were injured when a mezzanine floor at Indonesia’s stock exchange building in Jakarta gave way.

Authorities continue to work tirelessly to rescue those still trapped while investigating the cause of the collapse.