Indonesia school collapse death toll rises to 17

JAKARTA – The death toll in an Indonesian school collapse rose to 17 on Oct 4, an official said, as rescuers moved to deploy heavy machinery to recover dozens more victims believed still buried under the rubble.

Part of the

multi-storey boarding school

in Sidoarjo, East Java,

collapsed

suddenly on Sept 29 as students gathered for afternoon prayers.

Rescuers retrieved two bodies and a body part from the rubble on Oct 4, bringing the death toll to 17, National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) operation director Yudhi Bramantyo said in a statement.

“The evacuation process is still ongoing. Debris removal is focused to the north side in an area not integrated with the main structure,” Mr Yudhi said.

Earlier on Oct 4, the authorities said they recovered nine bodies on Oct 3.

Rescuers were searching for 49 people still missing, National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) chief Suharyanto said prior to the retrieval of the latest bodies.

More victims could be found, Mr Suharyanto said, as rescuers moved to use heavy machinery to clear locations where the victims were believed to be buried underneath the rubble.

“After the last victim was found last night, we are focusing on a massive clean-up, with heavy equipment entering the collapsed areas,” he said.

The school collapse was so violent that it sent tremors across the neighbourhood, according to residents.

Investigators have been looking into the cause of the collapse, but initial signs pointed to substandard construction, experts have said.

The rescue operation was complex because vibrations in one place could affect other areas, officials said.

But the families of the missing agreed on Oct 2 for heavy equipment to be used, after the 72-hour “golden period” for the best chance of survival came to an end.

The rescue operation was complicated by an earthquake that struck overnight on Sept 30, briefly halting the search. AFP