Massive Collapse at Indonesian Islamic Boarding School: Rescuers Race Against Time to Free Trapped Students as Death Toll Rises
In Sidoarjo, Indonesia, emergency responders worked tirelessly to reach students trapped in the debris of a fallen school building on Tuesday. At least three students lost their lives, over 100 were injured, and dozens more were presumed buried following the collapse at Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School.
Rescuers, along with police and military personnel, dug through the night to extract eight survivors more than eight hours after the incident at the East Java institution. The discovery of additional bodies suggested that the death toll may rise.
Efforts were momentarily halted at 10:15 a.m., as the unstable concrete structure shifted unexpectedly, causing panic among those present and leading rescuers to urge nearby individuals to maintain a safe distance. Operations resumed around 1:45 p.m.
The affected students primarily consisted of boys in grades seven through eleven, aged between twelve and eighteen.
Family members gathered at hospitals and the site of the collapsed building, with a notice posted at the school complex on Tuesday listing 65 students as missing. By midday, National Disaster Management Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari revised this number to 38 individuals presumed trapped beneath the rubble.
Parents could be heard wailing upon seeing their children’s names on the board, with cries echoing from other relatives who shared a similar predicament. One father pleaded with rescue teams, “Please, sir, please find my child immediately.”
The labyrinth of concrete and debris hindered search and rescue efforts, according to Nanang Sigit, a search and rescue officer leading the operation. Despite having heavy equipment at their disposal, concerns about causing further collapse prevented its use.
Rescuers worked diligently to provide oxygen and water to those still trapped beneath the debris while continuing their efforts to extract them. Sigit emphasized that they were focusing on saving those who were still alive, despite discovering several bodies within the rubble.
Over 370,000 Islamic teachers and preachers are associated with the more than 42,400 pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) listed in Indonesia. Unlike public school students, santri (students at these institutions) reside in dormitories and intensely study both formal education and Islamic religious knowledge.
Al Khoziny, named after an influential figure in East Java, is one of the oldest pesantrens in the province, with a history dating back to 1920 when students first began studying there, before it was officially established in 1927. More than 2,000 santri currently study at al Khoziny, from junior high school level up to college.
The tragedy occurred during the afternoon prayers in a building undergoing unauthorized expansion when it suddenly collapsed. Residents, teachers, and administrators assisted injured students, many of whom suffered head injuries or broken bones. Female students in another part of the building managed to escape unharmed.
By Monday, one male student had been confirmed dead, 102 students and teachers were injured and hospitalized, some in critical condition. As of Tuesday, 75 students and two teachers remained hospitalized. Two additional male students lost their lives while being treated at Notopuro General Hospital on Tuesday. Amputation and head surgery were necessary for several other students, according to hospital director Atok Irawan.
Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the collapse, with police spokesperson Jules Abraham Abast stating that the old prayer hall was two stories but two more were being added without proper authorization. He explained that the building’s original foundation was likely incapable of supporting the additional floors of concrete, causing its collapse during construction.