Tragedy struck in Sidoarjo, East Java, earlier this week as a two-storey Islamic boarding school collapsed while hundreds of students, mostly boys, were inside.
Search and rescue teams have reported that 59 people remain missing while the confirmed death toll stands at five.
Emergency workers have faced perilous conditions as they comb through piles of concrete and debris.
With the discovery of no signs of life under the wreckage, hope for more survivors has faded, though families still wait desperately for any positive news.
What Do We Know About the Collapse?
The collapse occurred on Monday, catching students and staff by surprise. While the building housed hundreds at the time, most of its occupants were teenage boys attending classes or residing at the Islamic boarding school.
Initial reports confirmed five fatalities and more than 100 injuries. Rescue operations began immediately, with thirteen people extracted from the rubble in the first hours. Sadly, two of those freed later died in the hospital.
Via press conferences, officials from Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (BNBP) have cited the chaotic early data. They said tallies of the missing have fluctuated, which is common in disasters.
Family members quickly converged on the site following news of the collapse, hoping for updates as authorities attempted to verify the whereabouts of all individuals.
Did you know?
Indonesia ranks among countries with some of the highest rates of school building collapses in Southeast Asia, often linked to unregulated construction.
How Are Rescuers Responding to the Crisis?
Initial rescue efforts relied heavily on manual labor, with teams digging through debris by hand and using small tools to reach those trapped beneath.
The unstable nature of the collapsed structure initially hampered the use of large machinery, due to fears of further collapses and additional risk to survivors.
Thermal drones and sound detection devices were introduced as efforts intensified. On Thursday, BNBP’s Lt Gen Suharyanto announced that scientific monitoring had failed to find signs of life under the school's ruins, leading the operation into a new phase.
Heavy equipment, such as cranes and cutting tools, is now being used to remove larger slabs of concrete in a safe and controlled manner.
Why Did the School Building Fail?
Investigations quickly focused on the school’s structural integrity. The building had recently undergone expansion, with two new floors added on top of the original foundation.
Officials stated that the school administration had not obtained the necessary permits for these alterations, nor had they ensured the foundation could support the added weight.
Authorities confirmed that the unstable ground and unregulated construction were decisive factors in the disaster.
The town’s regent pointed to gaps in the building approval process and called for stricter oversight and adherence to safety standards for all educational institutions in the region.
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What Is the Situation for Missing Families?
Relatives of the missing have remained at the scene since news of the collapse broke, forming anxious crowds around the rubble.
Many expressed heartbreak and frustration, yet still clung to hope as rescue operations continued into a fourth day.
Reports shared by media outlets included tearful appeals for information and stories of families camping out on site.
Some parents and siblings have spoken publicly, describing sleepless nights and a mixture of fear and optimism.
Those recently reunited with loved ones stood in contrast to crowds still waiting for word. For many, the lack of definitive information has deepened the trauma and extended the uncertainty.
What Happens Next in the Recovery?
With no signs of life detected, emergency teams are now focused on recovery rather than rescue. Heavy machinery will be used to move, lift, and cut large concrete debris that could not be safely shifted earlier in the search.
Authorities have stressed the ongoing need for support for victims’ families and for the community to come together.
Indonesia’s disaster management agencies have called for comprehensive reviews of school safety protocols, particularly with regard to construction and permitting procedures.
As recovery continues, calls for accountability and better regulations dominate the public response. The hope is that reforms will follow, and tragedies like Sidoarjo’s will not be repeated.
Hopes of survival are now dim, but the incident has stirred renewed debate about building safety and regulatory enforcement across Indonesia.
As families and the community grieve, advocacy for change has grown louder, with national attention focused on how best to prevent future tragedies.
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