Indonesia School Collapse: Death Toll Rises to 36, Dozens Still Missing

The death toll from the collapse of an Islamic boarding school in Indonesia’s East Java province has risen to 36, up from 16 a day earlier, the country’s disaster mitigation agency said on Sunday.

Rescue teams continued for a seventh day to search for 27 students still missing — mostly boys aged 13 to 19 — believed to be trapped beneath the debris. Cranes have been deployed to clear rubble, and officials said search and evacuation efforts were about 60% complete, with operations expected to conclude on Monday.

The Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo collapsed last Monday during afternoon prayers, when its weakened foundations gave way under ongoing construction on the upper floors, burying hundreds of students.

After days of searching without finding signs of life, rescuers received permission from parents on Friday to use heavy machinery to speed up operations. Despite efforts that included digging tunnels and using sensors to detect movement, no survivors have been found.

Al Khoziny is one of Indonesia’s many pesantren — Islamic boarding schools that provide both religious and general education. The country, home to the world’s largest Muslim population, has around 42,000 pesantren serving roughly 7 million students, according to the Religious Affairs Ministry.