Desperate Search for Missing Students After Sidoarjo School Collapse

Desperate Search Underway in Sidoarjo

Indonesian rescue teams are working around the clock in a frantic effort to locate scores of missing students, days after a catastrophic building collapse at an Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo, East Java. The disaster struck during afternoon prayers, trapping students beneath heavy concrete debris as their school building, undergoing unauthorized renovations, suddenly gave way. Authorities fear the death toll may climb higher as responders report seeing additional bodies among the rubble, even as hope dims for those still unaccounted for. The community, including teachers, residents, and local officials, has rallied to support the injured, many of whom suffered severe head trauma and broken bones. Most victims are male students, as female students were praying separately and managed to escape unharmed.

Ongoing Investigation and Community Response

Initial reports indicate the original two-story prayer hall had been illegally expanded to four floors without proper permits, raising urgent questions about construction safety standards and regulatory oversight. Police and military units continue to clear debris, while hospitals nearby have treated dozens of survivors, some in critical condition. The tragedy has drawn national attention to the risks of unregulated building projects at educational institutions across Indonesia. As rescue efforts persist, the incident underscores the need for stricter enforcement of building codes and greater accountability to prevent future disasters.