Published On 2 Oct 2025
In eastern Java, Indonesian rescue teams have mobilized heavy equipment to move large debris from a collapsed school building, as nearly 59 adolescent students remain missing three days after the tragic incident.
Following consultations with the families of those unaccounted for and the absence of any signs of life beneath the wreckage, authorities have resolved to advance the recovery operation.
Coordinating Minister Pratikno assured, “We will exercise utmost caution while operating the heavy machinery,” underscoring the delicate nature of the ongoing efforts despite the diminishing hope of finding survivors.
The disaster struck on Monday when the prayer hall of the historic al-Khoziny Islamic Boarding School in Sidoarjo gave way, trapping hundreds beneath the rubble. Officials revealed that unauthorized construction of two additional floors atop the original two-story structure was underway, and the foundation collapsed during the concrete pouring process.
At present, five fatalities have been confirmed, with over 100 individuals injured and more than 25 hospitalized with critical conditions such as head injuries and broken bones. The majority of those affected were male students aged 12 to 19, spanning grades seven through twelve. Female students, who were praying in a separate area, were unharmed.
As the crucial 72-hour survival window closed, nearly 220 rescue workers persisted in their search, supported by ambulances ready for emergency response. The increasing number of body bags arriving at the scene, however, paints a somber picture of the rescue operation’s progress.
Suharyanto, head of Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency, stated, “While the likelihood of finding survivors is minimal, we will continue with careful procedures,” and acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the exact count of missing persons. “Our hope remains that these 59 individuals are not trapped beneath the debris.”
Since the collapse, hundreds of relatives have kept a constant presence at the school, resting on government-supplied mattresses in hallways as they await news.
Among them is Hafiah, whose 15-year-old son, Muhammad Abdurrohman Nafis, a ninth grader, is still missing. “I refuse to lose hope; my son is very energetic and resilient,” she shared, recalling how he had joyfully eaten his favorite satay rice just a day before the tragedy. Nafis had ambitions to pursue mechanical engineering in high school after completing junior high.
“I hold on to hope because the rescue teams are doing everything they can to save our children,” Hafiah added, expressing her deep sense of helplessness amid the ongoing crisis.
