Rescuers rushed to provide oxygen and water to students trapped in the unstable concrete debris of a collapsed school building in Indonesia. The rescue operation continued through the night, with eight survivors being pulled out weak and injured more than eight hours after the collapse at the Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School in Sidoarjo, East Java.
Tragically, at least three students lost their lives, and numerous others were injured, while many more were believed to be buried under the rubble. The number of missing persons was initially reported at 65 but was later revised to 38 by midday. Additionally, one male student was found deceased, and over 100 students and teachers were injured, some critically.
As of Tuesday, 75 students and two teachers remained hospitalized, with two male students succumbing to their injuries. Rescue efforts faced a temporary halt due to structural concerns, prompting a brief evacuation before resuming later in the day. The families of the students anxiously awaited updates, with emotional scenes unfolding as survivors were rescued from the collapsed building.
The students, predominantly boys aged 12 to 17 in grades seven to eleven, were in the building for afternoon prayers when the collapse occurred. The unauthorized expansion of the structure was identified as a contributing factor, with investigations ongoing to determine the exact cause of the tragedy.
Search and rescue teams, comprising hundreds of personnel, worked tirelessly to extract survivors, prioritizing those still alive under the rubble. While the situation remained challenging due to the unstable conditions, efforts focused on saving lives and ensuring the well-being of those trapped.
