Jakarta (VNA) – At least 91 students of an Islamic school in Sidoarjo town of Indonesia's East Java province remain trapped in concrete rubble on October 1, almost two days after the school's prayer hall collapsed on them, according to local authorities.
As of September 30 evening, at least three students had been confirmed dead and 100 others were injured, many with head injuries and broken bones.
The students were mostly boys in grades seven to 12, between ages 12 and 18. Female students were praying in another part of the building and managed to escape, survivors said.
The structure fell on top of hundreds of people, who had been performing afternoon prayers in a prayer hall at the century-old al Khoziny Islamic boarding school on September 30.
More than 300 rescue workers are desperately working to free survivors but facing numerous difficulties.
The National Disaster Management Agency said at least six children are alive under the rubble, but the search was made difficult by the slabs of concrete and other unstable, heavy parts of the building. Heavy equipment was available but not being used due to concerns that it could cause further collapse.
Rescuers have been running oxygen, water, and food from narrow gaps to those still trapped under the debris to keep them alive, some of them pinned in place.
The prayer hall had two stories but two more were being added without a permit, according to authorities. Police said the old building’s foundation was apparently unable to support two floors of concrete and collapsed during the pouring process./.
Indonesia: School collapse leaves three dead, 38 missing
At least three students have been killed and dozens are missing following the collapse of an Islamic boarding school in Indonesia’s East Java province.
