Indonesia school building collapse kills one, injures dozens

A building under construction at an Islamic boarding school in Indonesia collapsed during afternoon prayers on Monday, killing at least one student and injuring nearly 100 others.

The incident occurred at Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School in Sidoarjo, East Java, where police said students were gathered in a hall that had been undergoing an unauthorized expansion.

Rescue teams, including police, soldiers, and volunteers, worked through the night to free those trapped under the rubble. Eight students were pulled out alive after more than eight hours, while officials warned the death toll could rise as more bodies were spotted beneath the debris.

One male student was confirmed dead, while 99 others were rushed to hospitals with injuries ranging from broken bones to head trauma. Survivors said most victims were male students, as their female counterparts were praying separately and managed to escape.

Authorities said the original two-story structure had been illegally renovated with two additional floors. The building’s foundation failed during a concrete-pouring process, leading to its collapse, provincial police spokesperson Jules Abraham Abast explained.

Television footage showed rescuers digging through heavy slabs of reinforced concrete, while others ran oxygen and water to survivors trapped beneath. Families gathered at nearby hospitals and the disaster site, anxiously awaiting news of their children.

“We are doing everything possible to save those still alive,” said rescue leader Nanang Sigit, who confirmed that several bodies were seen under the rubble.

An investigation has been launched into the cause of the collapse, with authorities focusing on the unauthorized construction.