Dozens missing, three dead in Indonesia school collapse

Three students have been confirmed dead and dozens are missing after a building collapsed at an Islamic boarding school in Indonesia’s East Java province.¹

Here’s what is known about the tragic event:

• Location: The incident occurred at the Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School in the town of Sidoarjo, East Java.²
• Incident: The building, which was undergoing an unauthorized expansion, collapsed on Monday as students were gathering for afternoon prayers.³ Authorities believe the foundation was unable to support the weight of the new construction.⁴
• Casualties: As of Tuesday, three students have been confirmed dead.⁵ The number of people missing is reported to be 38, according to Indonesia’s National Agency for Disaster Management.⁶ There were 99 survivors, with 77 of them taken to hospitals for treatment.
• Rescue Efforts: Hundreds of rescuers, including police and soldiers, have been working through the night to search for survivors.⁷ They have been running oxygen and water to those still trapped in the rubble. Search and rescue operations have been hampered by the instability of the collapsed structure.
• Cause: A provincial police spokesperson stated that the old prayer hall was originally two stories, but two additional floors were being added without a permit.⁸ The collapse occurred during the process of pouring concrete for the new floors.⁹