Indonesia: A devastating accident occurred at an Islamic boarding school in Indonesia when a building under construction suddenly gave way, trapping dozens of students who were praying inside. At least one student has died, while many others were injured, and rescue teams believe that as many as 65 students remain buried beneath the rubble.
The collapse happened at the Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School in Sidoarjo, East Java. According to authorities, the students were gathered for afternoon prayers when the structure, part of an unauthorized expansion, collapsed unexpectedly. Police spokesperson Jules Abraham Abast explained that the building’s old foundation was unable to support the weight of the two concrete floors during the pouring process, which led to the catastrophic failure.
Emergency crews, including police, military, and rescue workers, immediately rushed to the scene and spent hours sifting through the debris to locate survivors. After approximately eight hours of continuous effort, rescuers were able to pull eight injured students from the wreckage. Unfortunately, officials confirmed that one male student died, while nearly 100 others sustained injuries ranging from minor to critical and were transported to nearby hospitals.
Witnesses shared that most of those affected were male students, as female students were praying in a separate area of the building and managed to avoid the collapse. Authorities continue their search through the night, fearing that the death toll could rise as they uncover more victims beneath the debris.
The tragedy has left the community in shock as investigations into the cause and responsibility for the unauthorized construction are underway. Rescue operations and medical care efforts remain ongoing as officials work to bring relief to the victims and their families.
