Indonesia: Rescue teams in Indonesia have recovered 12 more bodies from the rubble of a collapsed prayer hall at an Islamic boarding school, raising the death toll to 61. The tragic incident occurred on September 29 when the Al Khojini Islamic Boarding School’s prayer hall in Sidoarjo, East Java, caved in while students were performing afternoon prayers.
The collapse took place in the historic, 100-year-old building, which was reportedly undergoing an unauthorized expansion. Most of the victims were boys who had gathered for the prayer session. Authorities confirmed that only one student survived, though 99 others were injured, with four remaining in critical condition and still hospitalized as of Monday. The majority of the injured have since been treated and discharged.
With no survivors found after three days of searching, rescue teams ramped up efforts last week, deploying heavy machinery to clear the extensive debris. The National Disaster Management Agency announced on Monday that 12 more bodies had been recovered from the site. Despite their best efforts, two students are still unaccounted for, and authorities have stated that they do not expect any additional survivors.
The difficult task of identifying the victims continues, with many of the bodies being in a condition that makes identification challenging. Relatives of the missing students have been providing DNA samples to assist in the process at the Bhayangkara Police Hospital in Surabaya, the capital of East Java province.
The collapse has sparked widespread outrage and concern, especially as it is now known that the building’s expansion had not been approved by authorities. Investigations into the causes of the tragedy and the illegal construction are ongoing, with local officials promising a thorough inquiry.
The incident has devastated the local community, and the grief-stricken families of the victims are seeking justice and accountability for the loss of their children. Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency continues to coordinate the search efforts, while the country mourns the loss of so many young lives in this avoidable disaster.
