Indonesia School Collapse: Rescuers Race to Save Dozens Still Trapped in East Java
Sidoarjo, East Java – A frantic rescue operation is underway in Indonesia after the collapse of a two-storey Islamic boarding school in East Java left at least four students dead and more than 100 injured. Authorities fear that dozens more may still be trapped under the rubble as desperate families wait for news of their children.
The Al-Khoziny Islamic Boarding School, located in the town of Sidoarjo, caved in on Monday evening while hundreds of students, most of them teenage boys, had gathered to pray. Witnesses described scenes of panic as the roof and concrete slabs crashed down, sending students scrambling for safety.
Voices From Beneath the Rubble
Rescue workers reported hearing cries and shouts from beneath the debris as operations continued into Wednesday. “Our focus now is only on saving lives,” said Mohammad Syafii, head of Indonesia’s national search and rescue agency, Basarnas. “There was some confusion about the exact number of students trapped, but we are prioritizing the rescue efforts above all else.”
Two students were pulled out of the rubble on Wednesday morning—one survived with injuries and was rushed to hospital, while the other was confirmed dead. Since Monday, at least 13 people have been rescued, though two later died of their injuries in hospital.
The situation is extremely precarious. Officials warn that any movement of the wreckage could cause the fragile structure to collapse further, endangering both survivors and rescue teams.
Why Did the School Collapse?
Authorities said the tragedy was caused by illegal construction work. The school’s management had begun adding two extra floors to the existing two-storey building without obtaining permits. According to Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency, the foundations of the building were weak and could not support the additional weight.
“This building was never designed to bear the weight of extra floors,” said a local official. “It was a disaster waiting to happen.”
The town’s regent confirmed that the school had not applied for building permits. Legal action is expected to follow once the rescue phase is complete.
The Challenge of Rescue Operations
Rescue efforts have been hampered by repeated aftershocks from a nearby offshore earthquake, forcing teams to briefly halt operations for safety reasons. Engineers working on-site say the debris is highly unstable.
Mudji Irmawan, a civil engineering expert from the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology, said rescuers must proceed with extreme caution. “Even a single vibration can cause more slabs to shift,” he explained. “There is a constant danger of small landslides as they try to open access tunnels.”
Rescuers are using underground culverts with just 60 centimeters of clearance to crawl toward survivors. Syafii emphasized that time is critical: “The first 72 hours after a disaster is considered the golden period for survival. We are racing against the clock to save as many lives as possible.”
Survivor Stories: Narrow Escapes Amid Chaos
Among the survivors was 13-year-old Muhammad Rijalul Qoib, who vividly recalled the moments before the collapse.
“Hundreds of us were preparing to pray,” he said. “Then I heard stones falling—it started softly but became louder and louder. Suddenly, the building shook and I tried to run.”
Rijalul was struck in the face by falling debris from the roof but managed to escape with the help of another student who guided him toward an opening in the rubble. “I was lucky to survive,” he said.
Girls at the boarding school were praying in a different section of the building and escaped unharmed. Most of the fatalities and injuries occurred in the boys’ prayer hall, where the roof collapsed directly on worshippers.
The first student to be confirmed dead was Maulana Alvan Ibrahimavic, a young boy who had only recently joined the school after graduating from elementary school. His body was escorted home by police on Monday night, where grieving relatives gathered for his funeral.
Families Waiting in Agony
Outside the school, rows of anxious parents and relatives have camped out since Monday, clinging to hope. Many say they can still hear muffled cries for help from inside the ruins. Volunteers are providing food, water, and blankets to the waiting families as they brace for updates.
“There is nothing harder than waiting, not knowing if your child is alive,” said one mother whose son remains unaccounted for.
A History of Deadly Collapses in Indonesia
Indonesia has a troubling record of building collapses, often linked to poor construction standards, weak foundations, and unauthorized structural modifications. Experts say the Al-Khoziny tragedy highlights the urgent need for stricter enforcement of building codes, especially in schools and public facilities.
“This disaster was preventable,” said Irmawan, the civil engineering expert. “When safety protocols are ignored, it is the most vulnerable—children—who pay the price.”
The Road Ahead
Search teams say their priority remains pulling out survivors, but recovery operations may continue for days. Electricity and water supplies have been cut in much of Sidoarjo, complicating the rescue mission further. Emergency medical tents have been set up nearby to treat the wounded.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has ordered a full investigation into the collapse and directed the national disaster management agency to provide immediate assistance to victims and their families.
For the grieving community of Sidoarjo, however, the scars of this tragedy will last far longer than the rubble remains.