In brief
In a tragic event in Sidoarjo, East Java, Indonesia, a school building collapsed, killing at least three people and trapping dozens of students and staff beneath the rubble. Rescuers are working against time to locate survivors amidst unstable conditions and fears of further collapse. The building's foundation was reportedly inadequate for the weight of additional floors. This incident raises concerns over building safety standards in the region.
Rescuers are racing to pull dozens of students and workers from under the rubble of a school building that collapsed in East Java, Indonesia.
Three people have been killed and 99 others hospitalized, some of them with critical injuries, officials said Tuesday, adding that the death toll may rise.
At least 38 others, many of them teenage boys, remain trapped under the Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School in the East Java town of Sidoarjo. They had gathered for prayers when the building gave way on Monday.
The two-storey building had an unstable foundation and could not support the weight of the construction of two more floors, the disaster mitigation agency stated.
Students aged between 12 and 17 were inside the building at the time of the collapse. Initial reports indicated that the girls praying in another section managed to escape.
Survivors recounted their harrowing escapes, with eyewitness reports of the building collapsing amidst the sound of falling rocks. Many students are currently hospitalized, some suffering from serious injuries including broken bones.
Authorities noted that the collapsed structure has a pancake-like design, making it difficult for rescue operations due to limited voids for safe access. Rescue efforts were briefly halted for safety precautions.
The school’s management is now facing scrutiny regarding construction permits, as it has been reported that they did not have the necessary documentation for building expansion.
With Indonesia's construction sector known for its poor safety record, this tragedy underscores ongoing issues with building regulations and monitoring practices in the country.
