On Monday, September 29, 2025, tragedy struck the al Khoziny Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo, East Java, Indonesia. As hundreds of students gathered in the prayer hall for afternoon prayers, the century-old building suddenly collapsed, sending slabs of concrete and steel crashing down. The school, which was in the midst of an unauthorized expansion to add two new storeys, became a scene of chaos and despair as dozens of students were buried beneath the rubble.
According to The Associated Press, the collapse occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. The boys inside—ranging from 12 to 18 years old and spanning grades seven through twelve—were caught in the disaster, while female students managed to escape safely, having been in another part of the building at the time. Survivors recounted the terrifying moment, describing how the structure gave way without warning during the concrete pouring process, a result authorities later attributed to the old foundation being unable to bear the weight of the additional floors.
By Wednesday, October 1, the death toll had risen to six, as reported by Yudhi Bramantyo, Deputy Chief of Operations at Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency. The number of missing fluctuated as authorities worked to reconcile school attendance lists with frantic family accounts. Initially, officials said 38 students were unaccounted for, but this number was revised to 91 after further investigation and consultation with families. "In the early stages there will inevitably be some confusion about the data," Suharyanto, head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, explained to reporters, reflecting the frantic nature of such disasters.
Rescue operations were swift but fraught with challenges. More than 300 workers, including personnel from the National Search and Rescue Agency, descended on the site. Their efforts were complicated by the unstable debris—slabs of concrete and twisted steel that threatened further collapse at the slightest disturbance. According to Reuters, heavy machinery was on standby but not used, as rescuers feared it could worsen the situation. Instead, workers used hammers, handheld power tools, and even their bare hands to chip away at the wreckage, inch by painstaking inch.
Thermal drones and advanced sensors swept the debris field, searching for pockets of life. In a small but significant victory, five survivors were pulled from the rubble after rescuers tunneled beneath the collapsed building. "Their conditions were better as they were detected yesterday. They can communicate since yesterday while their bodies are covered by concrete. We have been able to provide food and drink support since yesterday," Bramantyo told a news briefing, as reported by CBC. One boy was rescued on Wednesday afternoon, carefully loaded onto a stretcher and rushed to the hospital. His condition, like that of many others, was not immediately known.
The rescue teams worked against the clock, mindful of the so-called "golden hours"—the critical 72-hour window after such disasters when survival odds are highest. Mohammad Syafii, head of the National Search and Rescue Agency, emphasized the urgency: "We are currently racing against time because it is possible that we can still save lives of those we have detected within the golden hours." Signs of life were detected in seven areas beneath the rubble, and rescuers sent oxygen, water, and food through narrow gaps to sustain those trapped below.
The operation’s complexity was compounded by a 6.5-magnitude earthquake that struck the region of Sumenep, about 200 kilometers from the school, on Wednesday. The quake packed the debris even tighter, reducing the available space for maneuvering from 50 centimeters to just 10, according to Syafii. The earthquake also injured three people and damaged dozens of homes in the broader area, stretching emergency resources even thinner.
For the families waiting outside the school, the days dragged on in agonizing uncertainty. Many reported hearing cries for help beneath the rubble in the immediate aftermath. Abdul Hanan, whose 14-year-old son was missing, told AFP, "We believe our children might still be alive because they were crying for help. We are racing against time now." Another parent, Dewi Sulistiana, shared her pain: "I have been here for days. I cried thinking about my son. Why is it taking so long to find him? Why is the search so slow? I haven’t had any updates, so I just wait."
Approximately 100 people suffered injuries in the collapse, with more than two dozen still hospitalized, many with head injuries and broken bones. The scale of the disaster prompted the National Search and Rescue Agency to deploy 300 personnel, working around the clock to locate and extract survivors. As the hours ticked by, the focus remained on those still trapped, with rescuers refusing to give up hope even as the odds grew longer.
The incident has cast a harsh spotlight on construction standards and safety regulations in Indonesia. According to Al Jazeera, lax enforcement and a culture of incremental, often unauthorized, building expansions are widespread. It is common in Indonesia for structures to be left partially completed, with owners adding extra floors when finances permit. In this case, authorities confirmed that the additional storeys were being built without proper permits, and the building’s old foundation simply could not support the new weight.
This disaster is not an isolated event. Earlier in October, a building collapse in West Java killed three and injured dozens during a prayer recital, underscoring the persistent risks posed by substandard construction and unauthorized modifications. The tragedies have prompted renewed calls for stricter oversight and enforcement of building codes, as families and communities grapple with the consequences of preventable failures.
Despite the heartbreak, the courage and determination of the rescuers have offered glimmers of hope. Working in dangerous conditions, often with little more than hand tools and sheer willpower, they have managed to save lives and bring comfort to grieving families. As the rescue operation entered its critical phase, officials remained focused on the task at hand. "We hope that we can complete this operation soon," Syafii said, echoing the sentiments of a nation holding its breath.
As Indonesia mourns the loss and prays for those still missing, the tragedy at al Khoziny Islamic boarding school stands as a sobering reminder of the human cost of neglect and the resilience of those who rush to help in the darkest of times.
