Rescue teams raced on Tuesday to save at least 38 individuals still trapped following the collapse of an Islamic school building in Indonesia, which has already claimed three lives, officials reported.
The structure crumbled on Monday on Java, Indonesia’s primary island, during a gathering for afternoon prayers, witnesses noted in local reports.
Families anxiously awaited news about their loved ones as rescuers surrounded the multi-story building in Sidoarjo.
“We have identified 102 victims: 99 have survived, and 3 are deceased,” stated Mohammad Syafii, head of the National Search and Rescue Agency.
He emphasized the urgency of rescuers’ efforts to save individuals believed to be trapped beneath the debris.
Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), confirmed that search efforts continue for the 38 people suspected to be under the rubble.
Atok Irawan, director of a Sidoarjo hospital, informed reporters that two individuals succumbed to their injuries on Tuesday while receiving emergency care.
Concerns about construction safety in Indonesia have been heightened due to lax standards.
Earlier this month, a building collapse in West Java during a prayer gathering resulted in at least three deaths and numerous injuries.
