Advertising

Indonesia school collapse leaves 59 missing and at least five dead

Yesterday 08:30
Indonesia school collapse leaves 59 missing and at least five dead
By: Sahili Aya
Zoom

Rescue teams in Indonesia continued searching on Thursday for victims trapped under the rubble of a collapsed Islamic school in Sidoarjo, East Java, where 59 people remain missing and are presumed dead.

The building, located about 30 kilometers from Surabaya, collapsed on Monday after its foundation pillars reportedly failed to support the structure. The disaster has already claimed at least five lives, while five survivors have been pulled from the debris.

Authorities said advanced equipment, including thermal drones, had detected no signs of life since the collapse. “Scientifically, there was no longer any indication of survivors,” explained Suharyanto, head of the National Disaster Management Agency, who confirmed that the operation is moving into a recovery phase using heavy machinery.

The number of missing has fluctuated, initially reported as 38, then 91, before being revised to 59. Officials caution that not all those listed may be under the rubble, as some families have already reported survivors who were initially believed dead.

An investigation has been launched into the causes of the tragedy. Preliminary findings suggest structural weaknesses and construction that did not comply with safety standards.



Read more