Urgent Rescue Underway to Find Missing Students after School Tragedy in Indonesia
In Indonesia, a frantic search operation is underway to find a large number of young students trapped beneath the debris of a collapsed boarding school. The unfortunate incident occurred during their afternoon prayers in the town of Sidoarjo, located in East Java.
The century-old school, which suddenly gave way, has left at least 91 people unaccounted for. Already three people have lost their lives, and around 100 more have sustained injuries.
As the rescue operation stretches into its third day, authorities are racing against time to find the remaining survivors. The local fire and rescue department head maintains that their hopes are high, and the chances of finding survivors increase each time they identify a specific location within the debris.
Challenges to the Rescue Operation
The rescue operation, already a colossal task, is facing further adversity due to an earthquake that recently hit the region of Sumenep, around 124 miles away. The aftershocks may have compacted the debris, making the rescue mission even more difficult.
However, amidst the adversity, rescuers received a ray of hope when they managed to establish communication with six trapped children. The rescue team is creating tunnel-like passages to reach these survivors.
One official from the local search and rescue agency expressed his concern over the earthquake's impact. He suggested that the quake could have tightened the already limited space for the trapped students and complicated the rescue mission even further.
Rescue Focus Areas
Rescuers are zeroing in on 15 specific locations within the debris, six of which are strongly believed to harbor survivors. Communication has been established with several trapped individuals, although the exact number is not known.
Anxious family members have gathered at the school site, where a list of missing students has been posted. The majority of the students are boys between 12 and 18 years old who were in a hall for their afternoon prayers when the building collapsed.
One family member shared his heart-wrenching experience of hearing a child's voice from underneath the rubble, initially thinking it was his missing 13-year-old nephew.
Rescue Efforts Continue Amid Challenges
Despite the unstable condition of the collapsed structure, about 300 rescue workers are persistently attempting to reach the trapped students. However, the use of heavy machinery to remove the debris is considered risky as it might cause more of the building to collapse.
Teams are working painstakingly beneath the building, gently chipping away at the debris to find a path through the large pieces of concrete and exposed rebar.
The lead search and rescue coordinator revealed that oxygen is being supplied to those still trapped under the debris in an effort to keep them alive. Although several bodies have been spotted, the rescuers' primary focus is on saving those who are still alive.
Specialized Rescue Units Join the Search
Special units from the national search and rescue agency have joined the rescue operation, armed with breathing equipment, medical evacuation gear, and other extraction tools. The fire and rescue department has also deployed advanced search equipment, including a search camera and a heart rate monitor, to aid the rescue efforts.
Over 80 people managed to escape shortly after the collapse, and 11 more have been extracted from the building since. Unfortunately, three people have lost their lives, two of whom succumbed to their injuries in the hospital.
Investigation into the Cause of the Collapse
An investigation has been initiated to uncover the cause of the school's collapse. It's worth noting that a fourth floor was being added to the school at the time of the collapse, which resulted in all four floors collapsing onto each other.
Furthermore, it has been reported that the construction of the prayer hall was carried out without a permit, which has raised significant concerns. The religious affairs minister has called this a wake-up call and emphasized the risks associated with constructing schools without proper technical supervision.