One Dead, 65 Students Feared Trapped as School Building Collapses in Indonesia; Massive Rescue Ops Underway

Tragedy struck Indonesia on Monday when a section of a school building collapsed in the East Java town of Sidoarjo, leaving at least one student dead, dozens injured, and 65 others feared trapped under the debris. The incident occurred at Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School, where students were gathered for afternoon prayers.

Rescue Operations Continue Through the Night

As soon as news of the collapse spread, rescue teams comprising police, soldiers, and hundreds of volunteers rushed to the site. Equipped with oxygen supplies, breathing apparatus, medical evacuation kits, and extrication tools, they worked tirelessly through the night.

• Eight students were pulled out alive after more than eight hours under the rubble.
• However, rescuers also reported seeing more bodies inside, raising fears that the death toll could rise.
• Heavy machinery was kept on standby but avoided for now, as officials worried it could destabilize the already fragile concrete structure.

Families gathered anxiously near the ruins and hospitals, many breaking down as survivors covered in dust and blood were carried out.

Students Missing and Injured

A command post list showed that 65 students remain unaccounted for as of Tuesday morning. Most of them are boys aged 12–17, from grades 7 to 11.

Officials confirmed:

• 1 confirmed death (a 13-year-old boy).
• 99 injured, many with head injuries, fractures, and critical conditions.

Female students who were in another prayer hall managed to escape with minor injuries.

What Caused the Collapse?

According to provincial police spokesperson Jules Abraham Abast, the tragedy unfolded during afternoon prayers in a part of the school building that was undergoing unauthorized expansion. The structure suddenly gave way, burying dozens of students beneath heavy slabs of concrete.

Search and rescue officer Nanang Sigit said unstable rubble was making operations extremely risky, adding:

Growing Concerns Over School Safety in Indonesia

The collapse has sparked a debate on building safety standards in Indonesia. Many religious and public schools in rural and semi-urban areas expand classrooms without proper authorization or structural checks, often using substandard materials.

Past tragedies, such as school and mosque collapses during earthquakes or due to poor construction, have already raised alarms about the urgent need for stricter enforcement of safety codes.

The Road Ahead

Authorities have promised a full investigation into the cause of the collapse and whether negligence was involved in the unauthorized construction. Meanwhile, hundreds of rescuers continue their desperate search for survivors, while families pray for good news.