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
