At least 14 individuals lost their lives in Indonesia this week when a school building collapsed in Sidoarjo, East Java province. The tragic incident occurred during afternoon prayer, where hundreds of students and teachers were present. Following the collapse, a large-scale search and rescue operation involving hundreds of personnel equipped with specialized tools was initiated.
The death toll climbed to 14 on Friday as recovery teams recovered multiple bodies from the debris. Many students are still missing, indicating that the number of casualties may increase further. Rescue efforts transitioned from manual searches to using heavy excavators with jackhammers to clear the rubble.
By Friday evening, nine bodies had been recovered, bringing the confirmed death toll to 14, while nearly 50 students remained unaccounted for. Among the recovered bodies, two were found in the prayer hall area, and one was near an exit, suggesting an attempt to escape.
The students present during the collapse were reportedly male students between grades seven to 12, aged 12 to 19. Female students, who were in a different part of the building during the incident, managed to evacuate safely. Survivors recounted their harrowing experience, with one student, Rizalul Qoib, expressing gratitude for escaping with minor injuries.
Authorities revealed that the building, initially a two-story structure, was undergoing expansion with two additional levels. It was noted that the foundation could not withstand the added weight, leading to the catastrophic collapse. School officials have refrained from making any statements on the incident.
Suharyanto, from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, informed reporters that the recovery operation was expected to conclude by the end of Saturday. Efforts are ongoing to locate the missing students and provide support to the survivors who sustained injuries during the collapse.