Post by : Rameen Ariff

Jakarta – Hopes are fading in Indonesia as rescuers said they detected “no more signs of life” under the rubble of a collapsed boarding school where dozens of students remain trapped. The building, located in Sidoarjo on the island of Java, suddenly caved in on Monday during afternoon prayers, burying scores of students inside.

According to officials, five bodies have been recovered so far, while 59 people are still feared trapped beneath the ruins. Families waiting anxiously near the site have been left heartbroken as rescue teams work day and night in a complex and dangerous operation.

The head of Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency, Suharyanto, confirmed that high-tech equipment, including thermal drones, had been used to search for survivors. “Scientifically, there are no more signs of life,” he said, raising fears that the number of victims could rise sharply.

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Relatives of the missing children continue to pray for a miracle. “I have been here since day one. I hope for the best news, that my brother survives,” said 28-year-old Maulana Bayu Rizky Pratama, whose 17-year-old sibling is among those missing. Another father, Abdul Hanan, whose 14-year-old son is trapped, said he had heard children crying for help under the rubble and pleaded with officials to speed up the search.

The rescue mission is proving extremely difficult. Experts say vibrations caused by digging in one area can destabilise other sections of the collapsed structure. Search teams are now attempting to create a narrow underground tunnel just 60 centimetres wide to reach possible survivors. Heavy equipment is also being deployed with extreme caution after families gave their approval, though officials warned that the operation may last longer than seven days if victims remain unaccounted for.

Rescuers have used cameras and drones to scan the wreckage while also delivering food and water through a single access point. On Wednesday, five people were pulled alive from the rubble, giving families a glimmer of hope. But as the crucial 72-hour “golden window” for survival passes, the chances of finding more survivors are becoming slimmer.

The collapse was so violent that it sent tremors through the neighbourhood. Local resident Ani, who runs a grocery stall nearby, recalled: “I felt a vibration and then heard a loud noise. I ran to save myself, not realising it was the school that had collapsed.”

Officials believe the tragedy was caused by weak foundation pillars that gave way after additional floors were built on top of the school. This points to poor construction standards, a recurring problem in Indonesia. Experts warn that many buildings in the country are left partially finished, with owners later adding extra levels when finances allow, often without meeting safety regulations.

The rescue effort has faced further setbacks, including an offshore earthquake that briefly halted operations on Tuesday night. Despite these challenges, local charities have stepped in to provide food, water, and shelter for grieving families gathered near the site.

This latest disaster has raised fresh concerns about building safety in Indonesia. Just weeks earlier, three people were killed and dozens injured when another building collapsed during a prayer recital in West Java. The government is now under pressure to tighten construction rules and enforce safety standards to prevent such tragedies from happening again.

As rescue teams continue their search in Sidoarjo, families hold onto the last fragments of hope that their children might still be found alive, even as officials warn that survival chances are now very slim.

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