A tragic school building collapse in East Java, Indonesia, has claimed the lives of 54 people. Rescue workers are racing against time. They continue to search for at least 13 individuals who are still missing. The disaster struck a multi-story Islamic school, raising serious questions about building safety standards.
The sudden collapse happened last week at the Al Khosini School in Sidoarjo. Students were gathered inside for afternoon prayers when the building gave way. Officials confirmed the rising death toll in a recent update. Teams are working tirelessly through the rubble, hoping to find survivors or recover more victims.
Yuthi Bramantyo, Director of Operations for the National Search and Rescue Agency, spoke to reporters. He shared that 54 bodies have been found so far. This includes five sets of human remains. Rescue efforts are ongoing around the clock. Mr. Bramantyo expressed hope that the search mission could conclude soon. This would allow the bodies to be returned to their grieving families.
Budi Irawan, Deputy Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), labeled the incident as the worst disaster this year. He confirmed that 13 people remain unaccounted for. Investigators are actively looking into what caused the building to fall. Early signs from experts suggest that poor construction work might be a major factor in the tragedy.
Earlier in the week, families of the missing made a tough decision. They agreed to let heavy machinery be used in the search. This happened after the crucial 72-hour “golden period,” when survival chances are highest, had passed. The use of large equipment often means hopes of finding people alive have faded.
This event highlights a long-standing concern about building safety across the nation. Weak construction standards have often led to dangerous situations. For example, just last September, another building collapsed during a prayer ceremony in West Java. That incident killed at least three people and injured dozens more.
Source: AFP