Tragic School Collapse in Indonesia

Rescue teams are working tirelessly to provide oxygen and water to students trapped after a school building in Indonesia collapsed on Monday, resulting in at least three fatalities and leaving many others buried beneath the rubble.

The incident occurred at the Arkozyni Islamic Boarding School in Sidlho, East Java. A representative from the state police, Jules Abraham Avast, noted that the old building’s foundations were inadequate to support the weight of the concrete second floor, leading to its collapse during the construction process.

As of Tuesday, three students have lost their lives, and two others sustained injuries, with one requiring an arm amputation and the other undergoing surgery for head injuries, reported Atok Irawan, the hospital director at Notopuro General Hospital.

Rescue efforts continued amid urgency, with authorities indicating that around 38 students were still unaccounted for. Although eight individuals were rescued overnight, operations faced interruptions on Tuesday morning before resuming a few hours later.

Abdul Muhari, a spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Agency, expressed concern over those still trapped. “We’re providing oxygen and water to keep them alive as we make every effort to bring them out,” stated rescue crew member Nanan Sigit.

Amid the chaos, anguished parents gathered at the site, some breaking down upon seeing their child’s name on the list of the missing. One father was seen pleading with rescuers, “Please, teacher, find my child soon.”

The boarding school, known locally as Pesantren, accommodates more than 2,000 students, offering formal education alongside Islamic studies. Fortunately, a female student praying in a different hall managed to escape without injury.