School collapse in Indonesia leaves one dead, dozens trapped, injured
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Authorities revealed that the collapse occurred as the school building was undergoing an unauthorized expansion.
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Rescuers search for survivors after a building under construction collapsed, at an Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo, East Java, Indonesia, Tuesday, Sept 30, 2025 (AP Photo/Trisnadi)
Rescuers in East Java are racing against time after the collapse of the al-Khoziny Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo, which left at least one student dead, dozens injured, and 65 still trapped beneath the rubble.
The tragedy struck on Monday afternoon as students were performing prayers inside the building. By Tuesday morning, eight survivors had been pulled out, but officials warned the death toll could rise. Families anxiously gathered outside hospitals and the collapsed site, many in tears as they awaited news of their children.
A noticeboard at the rescue command center listed 65 missing students, most of them boys aged 12 to 17. "My son is still buried, please help!" one mother cried after seeing his name among the missing.
Hundreds of police, soldiers, and emergency workers worked through the night, relying mostly on manual digging. Heavy machinery was avoided due to fears it could trigger further collapse. "We have been running oxygen and water to those trapped while working to get them out," rescue officer Nanang Sigit told the Associated Press.
Rescuers reported seeing several bodies but stressed that the priority was saving those still alive. Many of the rescued students suffered head injuries and broken bones.
Building under unauthorized expansion
Authorities revealed that the collapse occurred as the school building was undergoing an unauthorized expansion. Provincial police spokesperson Jules Abraham Abast said the original two-story prayer hall was being extended by two additional floors without a permit.
"The foundation was not designed to bear the weight of the added concrete and gave way during construction," Abast explained.
A 13-year-old boy was confirmed dead, while 99 students were hospitalized, some in critical condition. Female students, who had been praying in another part of the building, managed to escape.
A century-old pesantren
Al-Khoziny, also known locally as Buduran Islamic Boarding School, is among the oldest pesantren (Islamic boarding schools where students, or santri, live and study both formal subjects and Islamic teachings) in East Java. Established in 1927, it has educated generations of Islamic scholars and today hosts more than 2,000 students.
Indonesia, home to the world’s largest Muslim population, counts over 42,000 pesantren nationwide, serving millions of students who study both formal subjects and Islamic teachings while living in dormitories.
