Indonesia School Collapse: Hopes Dim as Search Shifts to Recovery for Dozens Missing
Indonesia School Collapse: Hopes Dim as Search Shifts to Recovery for Dozens Missing
SIDOARJO, Indonesia — The agonizing decision to shift from rescue to recovery operations has been made at the Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School in Sidoarjo, East Java, where at least five people are confirmed dead and 59 students remain missing following a devastating collapse. As of Thursday, October 2, 2025, hopes are rapidly fading for the dozens still buried under the rubble, with authorities now deploying heavy machinery to remove debris.
For four harrowing days, rescue teams meticulously tunneled through the unstable wreckage, clinging to every sign of life. A brief glimmer of hope emerged on Wednesday when 13-year-old Syailendra Haikal and six other teenage boys were pulled from a pocket of the collapsed prayer hall. Two of those rescued, however, were found dead, underscoring the grim reality of the disaster. Haikal, despite moderate injuries, survived, a testament to rescuers who maintained communication and supplied essentials.
Families, including Umi Kulsum, whose 15-year-old son Sulaiman Hadi is among the missing, continue to gather near the site, desperately clinging to the hope of a miracle. “I still believe my son can be found alive,” Kulsum pleaded, reflecting the anguish of many parents.
The collapse, which occurred on Monday during afternoon prayers, trapped boys aged 12 to 18. Indonesia’s national search and rescue agency (Basarnas) confirmed late Wednesday that no further signs of life have been detected, leading to the difficult decision to introduce excavators. This move, initially avoided due to fears of further collapse and potential harm to survivors, effectively closes the window for manual rescue. Search efforts were further complicated by a recent earthquake in the region.
The Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School is one of thousands of Pesantrens in Indonesia. Construction work was reportedly underway on the building at the time of the tragedy, raising questions that will likely be addressed as recovery efforts continue.
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