Death toll from Indonesia school collapse rises to 14 as more victims found
Key Takeaways
- The death toll from the Indonesian school collapse has risen to 14 victims.
- Forty-nine people remain missing, prompting the use of heavy equipment in the search efforts.
- The collapse occurred at the Al-Khoziny Islamic Boarding School in Sidoarjo, East Java.
- Victim identification is complicated by the young age of the students and severe damage to some bodies.
- Initial signs suggest that substandard construction may be the cause of the structural failure.
The death toll from the collapse of the Al-Khoziny Islamic Boarding School in Sidoarjo, East Java, Indonesia, has tragically climbed to 14, as officials continue the grim search for missing students. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) confirmed that nine bodies were recovered on Friday, bringing the total confirmed fatalities to 14, while 49 individuals are still unaccounted for. Rescuers have transitioned to using heavy equipment to clear debris, a decision made after families consented following the end of the critical 72-hour survival window. The rescue operation has been complex, further hindered by a subsequent earthquake that briefly halted search efforts. Authorities report that 104 victims have been found safe, with 14 currently hospitalized, though identifying some remains has proven difficult due to the victims' ages and the extent of the damage. Initial investigations into the cause of the collapse are pointing towards potential substandard construction practices.
