Indonesian School Collapse Leaves 1 Dead, 65 Trapped Under Rubble

A partially built, unauthorized expansion of the Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo, East Java, collapsed while students were praying, killing at least one student and injuring dozens. Authorities say about 65 students—mostly boys in grades 7–11, aged roughly 12–17—are presumed buried under unstable concrete and rubble. Several hundred rescue personnel, police and soldiers worked through the night, pulling out eight weak or injured survivors more than eight hours after the collapse, supplying oxygen and water to those still trapped and reporting additional bodies that suggest the death toll may rise. Heavy concrete slabs and unstable parts of the structure have hampered operations and heavy machinery has largely been kept off the site for fear of further collapse, and officials have begun investigating, with preliminary comments that an old foundation may have been unable to support added concrete floors during pouring.