Sidoarjo: A building collapse at Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School in East Java turned tragic when a prayer hall under unauthorized expansion came crashing down on students during afternoon prayers. At least one male student died and 99 others were injured, many with head injuries and broken bones.
Rescue teams worked through the night to pull survivors from the rubble. Eight students were found alive more than eight hours after the collapse, though officials warned the death toll could rise. Most victims were male students as female students, praying separately, managed to escape unharmed.
The accident occurred while construction was underway to add two additional floors to an old two-story building without proper permits. Provincial police spokesperson Jules Abraham Abast said the structure’s foundation could not bear the extra load of concrete, leading to the collapse during pouring work.
Residents, teachers, and administrators joined police, soldiers, and trained rescuers in the desperate efforts to dig through steel and concrete debris. Heavy machinery was deployed, but unstable slabs hampered operations. Search teams also provided oxygen and water to trapped students to keep them alive while attempting rescue.
Families rushed to hospitals and the school site, anxiously waiting for news. Witnesses described emotional scenes as relatives wept when injured students were pulled from the rubble. Authorities have launched a full investigation into the unauthorized construction and the responsibility of those involved.
Hundreds of rescuers remain on site, continuing to search around the clock for survivors and victims beneath the collapsed prayer hall.
