Rescue Efforts Continue After Indonesian School Collapse Leaves Multiple Casualties

Rescue operations are ongoing in Sidoarjo, East Java, after the collapse of the Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school during afternoon prayers on Monday. The incident has resulted in at least three fatalities and over 90 injuries, with 26 individuals still hospitalized. Authorities have revised the number of missing persons to 91, up from an initial estimate of 38, following consultations with attendance records and families.

The collapse occurred as the school was undergoing an unauthorized expansion to add two additional stories. Preliminary investigations suggest that the building's foundation was unable to support the added weight, leading to the structure's failure. "This is all foundational failure," stated Emi Frizer, an official from the National Search and Rescue Agency.

Rescue teams, comprising over 300 personnel, are employing manual excavation methods to avoid further destabilizing the structure. Efforts include providing oxygen, water, and food to those trapped, as well as utilizing detectors and thermal drones to locate survivors. "We hope that we can complete this operation soon," said Mohammad Syafii, head of Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency. "We are currently racing against time because it is possible that we can still save lives of those we have detected within the golden hours."

The students affected were primarily boys aged 12 to 18, attending grades seven through twelve. Female students, who were praying in a different section of the building, managed to escape unharmed. The incident has prompted calls for stricter enforcement of building safety standards to prevent similar tragedies in the future.