Sidoarjo: A tragic building collapse at Al-Khoziny Islamic Boarding School in East Java has left one student dead and dozens missing, authorities confirmed.
Rescue teams are currently searching for 38 individuals believed to be trapped under the rubble. According to Indonesia’s National Agency for Disaster Management, 11 people have been rescued from the debris, while 91 others managed to escape on their own. Seventy-seven victims have been admitted to nearby hospitals for treatment of their injuries.
The agency remarked that, “Efforts to assess the site, monitor the remaining building structure, and prepare evacuation routes for victims are the primary focus of the teams on the ground.”
The agency emphasized the necessity for strict adherence to construction safety standards, urging the public and building managers to ensure technical supervision during construction to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Earlier, Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency reported that provisional data revealed around 100 students were involved in the collapse, with all but one accounted for alive.
The collapse occurred around 3 pm on September 29 as students were gathering for afternoon prayers. Authorities said the building’s foundation pillars gave way while workers were concreting the fourth floor, causing the roof and upper structures to crumble and trap dozens under debris.
This incident draws the second significant building collapse in Indonesia in less than a month. On September 3, at least three people were killed and several others injured when a community hall hosting a Quran recital collapsed in Bogor, West Java. Authorities continue rescue operations at the scene, while investigations into the cause of the collapse are ongoing.
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