Indonesian school collapse: Death toll rises to 37; several still missing

Jakarta: The death toll from the collapse of a school building in Indonesia has risen to 37, officials confirmed on Sunday, as rescue teams continued to recover bodies from beneath the debris.

According to Yudhi Bramantyo, Director of Operations at the National Search and Rescue Agency, 141 individuals had been recovered as of Sunday morning. Of those, 104 were found alive and in a safe condition, while 37 were confirmed dead.

Bramantyo added that 26 people are still unaccounted for, as search and rescue efforts remain ongoing.

The death toll includes a body part recovered from the rubble on Saturday, according to Yudhi.

In a separate statement, Nanang Sigit, head of the local search and rescue agency, confirmed the number of fatalities stands at 37.

Investigators are continuing to examine the cause of the collapse, though early indications suggest poor construction quality may have been a factor, experts have said.

Officials described the rescue effort as particularly challenging, warning that vibrations in one area could destabilise other sections of the site.

However, following the end of the 72-hour "golden period" — regarded as the critical window for finding survivors — families of the missing agreed on Thursday to allow the use of heavy machinery in the search.

The tragedy occurred on Monday afternoon at the century-old Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo while hundreds, mostly teenage boys aged 12 to 18, were performing prayers in a prayer hall.

The structure unexpectedly gave way during an unauthorised expansion, adding two floors to the original two-story building, which reportedly had a weak foundation unable to support the extra weight.

AFP