Sidoarjo: Rescue operations in East Java have been thrown into disarray after a powerful earthquake rattled Indonesia on Tuesday, worsening the collapse of an Islamic boarding school where dozens of students and teachers remain trapped beneath the debris. The disaster has left rescuers fighting against both time and physics, as shifting rubble has compressed potential air pockets and complicated access to survivors.
The tragedy unfolded in Sidoarjo, about 780 kilometers east of Jakarta, when the multi-storey boarding school crumbled during evening prayers. The ground floor, which housed a mosque, was full of worshippers at the time, while upper levels were still under construction. At least three people were confirmed dead shortly after the collapse, while officials fear the toll could rise with nearly a hundred still missing. More than 100 people were evacuated, many with serious injuries.
The 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck off Sumenep, roughly 200 kilometers from the site, shaking East Java and inflicting further damage on the fragile structure. Rescue officials explained that voids within the collapsed building once large enough for rescuers to crawl through have been reduced to mere slivers. What was once a 50-centimeter gap has narrowed to as little as 10 centimeters in some places, shrinking hope and slowing efforts to reach those still alive.
Heavy machinery such as excavators and cranes has been brought to the site, yet officials are reluctant to deploy them directly over the wreckage. The vibrations and shifting weight could trigger further collapse, endangering both rescuers and survivors. Instead, emergency teams are using hand tools, listening devices, and sniffer dogs to locate trapped victims. The operation requires precision and patience qualities that stretch thin as hours pass without major breakthroughs.
Early assessments point to fundamental weaknesses in the school’s construction. Authorities believe that the foundations were inadequate to bear the load of multiple upper floors still under construction. The sudden jolt of the earthquake likely accelerated the failure, bringing down slabs of concrete on worshippers below. Engineers are expected to conduct a detailed probe once rescue efforts are completed.
The quake also caused damage beyond the school grounds. The Indonesian disaster management agency reported dozens of homes damaged and at least three people injured in surrounding areas. While the wider region escaped catastrophic loss, the Sidoarjo collapse has emerged as the epicenter of tragedy, drawing national attention and sparking questions about building safety standards.
Despite the grim circumstances, rescuers insist they have detected faint signs of life in certain sections of the debris. Knocks, muffled voices, and thermal signals suggest that survivors may still be holding on. “Every minute matters,” one rescue coordinator told reporters. “We cannot give up there are children in there.”