The toll from a school collapse has tragically climbed. Rescue teams have found more bodies beneath the rubble. At least 14 students are now confirmed dead. Officials expect to call off the search efforts today.
This disaster struck an Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo. This town is located in Indonesia’s East Java province. The old building, Al-Khozinie, crumbled on Monday. It was over a century old. Hundreds of students were inside. They had gathered for prayer in the assembly hall.
Most of the victims were young men. They were secondary students, aged between 12 and 19. Female students praying in a separate room managed to escape harm. The school has not yet released any public statements.
Search teams worked tirelessly in the early days. They began searching with their bare hands. By Thursday, all hope of finding survivors had faded. There were no longer any signs of life. Rescuers then brought in heavy machinery. Large excavators with powerful jackhammers helped clear the massive concrete chunks. They have now removed more than half of the fallen building materials. Many of the students were found buried under concrete or wall pieces.
The work for the rescue crews has been gruelling. They face scorching temperatures each day. A heavy, decaying smell from the bodies reminds everyone of the profound loss. It underscores the great tragedy that unfolded here.
Suharyanto heads the country’s National Disaster Management Agency. He stated that the search and recovery operation should end by Saturday. This marks a sad end to a week of desperate searching.
Source: AP News