At least 14 individuals lost their lives in Indonesia this week when a school structure collapsed. The incident occurred at an Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo, East Java province during afternoon prayer, involving numerous students and teachers. Hundreds of rescuers engaged in the search operation utilizing specialized equipment. The death toll reached 14 by Friday, with multiple bodies recovered from the wreckage. Many students are still missing, indicating a potential rise in casualties.

Rescuers transitioned from manual searches to utilizing heavy excavators with jackhammers as no signs of survivors were detected by Thursday. The recovery process uncovered nine bodies by Friday evening, bringing the total confirmed deaths to 14, while nearly 50 students remain unaccounted for.

According to Suharyanto from Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency, two bodies were found in the prayer hall area, and one near an exit, suggesting an attempt to escape. The affected students were reportedly boys aged 12 to 19 in grades seven to 12, with female students in a separate part of the building managing to evacuate.

One survivor, thirteen-year-old Rizalul Qoib, shared his experience of narrowly escaping with minor injuries following the collapse. He described hearing noises resembling falling rocks during prayer, prompting his swift exit from the collapsing building. Numerous injured individuals are undergoing treatment for severe head trauma and fractures.

Authorities revealed that the school building, initially two stories high, was undergoing expansion with two additional levels. Structural issues during the construction process are suspected to have led to the tragic collapse. School officials have refrained from commenting on the incident.

Recovery efforts are expected to conclude by the end of Saturday, as stated by Suharyanto at the scene. This unfortunate event serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of stringent safety measures in construction and infrastructure development.