Indonesian rescue teams were working frantically on Tuesday to locate 38 people feared trapped after an Islamic boarding school collapsed in East Java, authorities said.
The Al Khoziny school in Sidoarjo town gave way on Monday afternoon while dozens of students and workers were inside for prayers, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) confirmed.
One person was killed, nearly 80 injured, and 102 others safely evacuated.
“This sudden occurrence caused building material to fall on dozens of students and workers,” BNPB spokesperson Abdul Muhari said. Bulldozers and other heavy equipment were being used to clear debris as rescuers searched for survivors.
Television footage on KompasTV showed anxious families gathered around a whiteboard listing the names of those rescued.
Preliminary findings suggested the building’s foundations were too weak to support the weight of ongoing construction on its fourth floor, officials said.
Rescue operations continued through the night as emergency teams warned the casualty toll could rise if more victims are found beneath the rubble.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
