A desperate search is underway in Sidoarjo, East Java, where Indonesian rescue personnel are racing against the clock to locate numerous students trapped beneath the debris of their collapsed Islamic boarding school. The devastating incident occurred during afternoon prayers, leaving many buried for days.
Within the mangled remains of the venerable Al Khoziny boarding school, rescuers successfully identified six surviving children. Efforts are being concentrated on providing these trapped individuals with essential supplies like food, water, and oxygen.
The National Disaster Management Authority (BPBD) confirmed late Tuesday that a staggering 91 individuals are still unaccounted for. The tragedy has already claimed three lives, with a further 100 people sustaining injuries.
As the extensive rescue mission entered its third day on Wednesday, Indonesian officials issued a stark warning about the rapidly dwindling timeframe to reach potential survivors. Laksita Rini, who heads the Fire and Rescue Department in Surabaya, East Java, conveyed a glimmer of hope to CNN, stating that "identifying a specific location significantly improves the chances of survival."
The already arduous rescue operation has been compounded by additional challenges. A recent earthquake struck the Sumenep region, approximately 124 miles from the collapse site, Reuters reported. Authorities are concerned that the tremors might have further compacted the rubble, complicating access. Encouragingly, the six children located alive managed to communicate with the rescue teams on Wednesday. Rescuers are now diligently working to excavate "tunnel-like passages or culverts" to extricate them.
Emi Frizer, an official with Indonesia's search and rescue agency, voiced apprehension regarding Tuesday's 6.5 magnitude earthquake. He informed Reuters that the seismic activity likely diminished the already limited space for trapped individuals and constrained maneuverability for the complex rescue efforts. Frizer acknowledged the increased difficulty, noting, "Maintaining the lives of those trapped while ensuring safe access will inevitably prolong our operations."
Air Vice Marshal Mohammad Syafii, head of Indonesia's national Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), disclosed to Kompas TV that teams are concentrating their efforts on 15 specific locations, with a strong belief that six of these still harbor survivors. While refraining from specifying the precise number of living individuals, Syafii confirmed that communication has been successfully established with several people trapped within the rubble.
Heartbroken family members have converged at the disaster site in Sidoarjo, located approximately 670 kilometers (420 miles) east of Jakarta, anxiously scrutinizing a posted list of missing students. The Associated Press reported that the majority of the missing students are boys, aged 12 to 18, who were observing afternoon prayers in a hall when the building catastrophically gave way on Monday.
Among the distraught relatives is 49-year-old Holy Abdullah Arif, who rushed to the school upon hearing the news, only to discover his 13-year-old nephew was on the list of those missing. He recounted to Reuters his frantic attempts, screaming, "Rosi! Rosi! If you can hear me and can move, get out!" Arif described hearing a child's cries from the rubble, believing it was his nephew. "I asked, 'Are you Rosi?' and the child responded, 'God, no, help me!'" Overwhelmed with uncertainty, Arif lamented, "I don't know his condition, whether he can be rescued, whether he's alive or dead."
Approximately 300 dedicated rescue workers pressed on with their efforts on Wednesday. However, operations are severely impeded by the precarious instability of the collapsed edifice, with fears that deploying heavy machinery could trigger further structural failure. The BPBD stated that rescue strategies are consequently focused on meticulous manual digging to create openings and passages for the evacuation of survivors. Footage from the site depicted teams toiling beneath the wreckage, painstakingly chipping away at debris to navigate through massive concrete slabs and protruding rebar.
Nanang Sigit, the lead search and rescue coordinator, informed the Associated Press that oxygen supplies are being continuously channeled to those still trapped, a critical measure to sustain life. The AP also noted Sigit's confirmation that while several bodies have been sighted, the paramount focus remains on rescuing living individuals. In an updated statement, he reiterated, "Despite confronting unstable debris and significant material challenges, the joint rescue team persists in its efforts to evacuate victims, with safety as the utmost priority."
Basarnas, the national search and rescue agency, deployed specialized units on Tuesday, arriving with crucial equipment including breathing apparatus, medical evacuation tools, and other extraction devices to bolster the search. Rini further elaborated to CNN that the Surabaya Fire and Rescue department has brought in advanced rescue technology, such as "a sophisticated search camera capable of locating victims within the rubble, and a heart rate monitor designed to detect survivors' vital signs."
Basarnas confirmed that over 80 individuals managed to escape immediately after the collapse, and an additional 11 people have since been extracted by rescue teams. Tragically, one person was found deceased during these efforts. While three individuals were pulled out alive on Tuesday, the agency sadly reported that two of them succumbed to their injuries in the hospital, increasing the confirmed death toll to three.
An official investigation has been initiated to determine the precise cause of the catastrophic collapse. Syafii revealed that a fourth floor was actively under construction at the time of the incident. Upon collapse, all four stories tragically pancaked upon each other. Citing local authorities, the AP further disclosed that the construction of the prayer hall had been proceeding without the necessary permits.
Indonesian Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar, who visited the scene, echoed this concern, stating via Antara news agency, "This serves as a crucial wake-up call." He emphasized that "numerous Islamic schools are constructed through community initiatives often lacking proper technical oversight, which presents grave risks."
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Originally published at: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/10/01/asia/indonesia-school-collapse-rescue-intl-hnk
