Jakarta: Rescue teams in Indonesia are continuing desperate efforts to recover victims from the rubble of an Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo, East Java, after the devastating collapse of a school building claimed at least 36 lives. Officials say the death toll may rise further as dozens remain missing beneath the debris, with hopes for survivors fading.
The collapse occurred at the Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School, also known locally as a pesantren, where hundreds of students were attending afternoon prayers when a section of the building suddenly gave way. Heavy concrete slabs and twisted steel beams buried classrooms, dormitories, and prayer areas in seconds.
As of Sunday morning, rescue personnel comprising military forces, local police, and volunteers had retrieved 36 bodies and were searching for 27 others who remain unaccounted for. Excavation efforts have been made more difficult by the fragile structure of the remaining building and the need to avoid further collapses.
Officials from Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported that nearly 60 percent of the rubble has now been cleared. Search teams have been alternating between manual digging and using heavy machinery, carefully listening for signs of life and calling out names of missing students.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the tragedy may have been caused by foundation instability and ongoing construction work on the school’s upper floors. Local authorities indicated that additional weight from new structures placed undue pressure on the older section of the building.
Witnesses said the collapse happened without warning. Survivors described a thunderous noise, followed by cries for help and clouds of dust engulfing the area. One student recounted, “We were preparing for afternoon prayers when everything started shaking. The roof came down within seconds.”
Heartbroken families have gathered near the site, praying and waiting for updates. Rescue workers have set up temporary tents and medical posts nearby, offering support to survivors and relatives of the victims. Emotional scenes have played out as bodies have been retrieved and identified, with many students believed to be teenagers aged 13 to 19.
On Friday, authorities obtained consent from guardians to deploy heavier equipment, marking a transition from rescue to recovery operations. Officials now expect to complete the clearance work by Monday, unless unforeseen complications delay progress.
The Indonesian government has expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. The President of Indonesia extended condolences to the victims’ families and called for a comprehensive review of school safety and construction standards, especially in religious institutions.
The collapse has reignited public debate on building safety regulations across the country, where many pesantrens Islamic schools providing religious and academic education operate in old or inadequately maintained structures. According to the Religious Affairs Ministry, Indonesia hosts nearly 42,000 pesantrens accommodating more than 7 million students nationwide.
As the sun set over Sidoarjo on Sunday evening, rescue lights continued to flicker across the site a grim reminder of the lives lost and the young dreams buried under the debris. Vigils were held in mosques and public squares across East Java, as the nation prayed for the souls of the departed and strength for the families enduring unspeakable loss.
The Al Khoziny school tragedy stands as one of Indonesia’s deadliest building collapses in recent years, prompting urgent reflection on safety, accountability, and the fragile line between faith, education, and human vulnerability.