Trisnadi/Associated Press
Indonesian disaster management officials are engaged in a desperate race against time to rescue at least 30 students believed to be trapped beneath the rubble of an Islamic boarding school. The tragic collapse, which occurred during a prayer service, has already claimed the lives of at least three children.
The devastating incident unfolded Monday afternoon at the school located in East Java province. According to Gatot Subroto, head of the provincial disaster management agency, three students have been confirmed dead, with dozens more sustaining injuries.
As of Tuesday morning, search and rescue teams are intensely focused on locating the estimated 30 students still unaccounted for. Nanang Sigit, who leads an East Java division of Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency, reported that 11 students have been successfully pulled from the debris so far.
Mr. Gatot emphasized the critical need to “optimize” every moment in the search for survivors. However, Mr. Nanang highlighted the perilous nature of the operation, noting that the remaining structure is highly unstable and poses a significant risk of further collapse.
The exact cause behind the Sidoarjo school’s sudden collapse remains under investigation and has not yet been publicly disclosed by authorities.
According to Mr. Nanang, preliminary reports suggest the tragedy occurred while workers were pouring concrete on the top floor. This activity led to the failure of the building’s pillars, causing the upper section to violently crash down onto the lower floor where students were gathered for prayer.
This remains a developing situation, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.