The death toll from the collapse of an Islamic boarding school in Indonesia’s Java island has climbed to 63, officials confirmed on Monday, after rescuers recovered more bodies from beneath the debris of the multi-storey building that gave way last week.
The tragedy unfolded when a large section of the school structure suddenly caved in during afternoon prayers, trapping dozens of students inside. At the time, more than 150 pupils were gathered in the prayer hall, leaving rescue teams racing against time to pull survivors from the wreckage.
Over the past several days, emergency workers and volunteers have worked tirelessly amid heavy rains and unstable rubble, using heavy machinery and search dogs to locate victims. Despite their efforts, around six students remain missing, with hopes fading as the search enters its final phase.
“We hope to conclude the recovery operation today,” said Yudhi Bramantyo, operations director of Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), during a press briefing. “Once all the bodies are found, they will be returned to their families for proper burial rites.”
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the collapse, with preliminary reports suggesting possible structural weaknesses in the decades-old building. Local officials have pledged to inspect similar school facilities across the region to prevent future tragedies.
The disaster has sparked widespread grief across Indonesia, where Islamic boarding schools—known as pesantren—play a vital educational and religious role, often housing thousands of students in remote areas. National leaders have expressed condolences to the victims’ families and called for stronger enforcement of building safety regulations to ensure that such incidents do not recur.
