Indonesian Rescue Teams Use Heavy Machinery Amid School Collapse Tragedy

Sidoarjo, Indonesia (AP) - October 2: Indonesian rescue teams made the difficult call on Thursday to deploy heavy machinery to clear the debris of a collapsed school, after detecting no further signs of life beneath the wreckage. Nearly 60 teenage students remain missing three days after the devastating building collapse.

Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs, Pratikno, who, like many in Indonesia, uses only one name, informed reporters at Sidoarjo that this decision was reached following consultations with the families of the missing students.

While five students were miraculously rescued using only hand tools Wednesday, Pratikno emphasized that Thursday's operation would continue with the utmost caution, despite no longer detecting signs of life.

"We will be very, very careful when employing the heavy machinery," Pratikno assured.

The structure, part of the century-old al Khoziny Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo on Java Island, collapsed on Monday, trapping hundreds of people in the prayer hall. Authorities noted that the building's foundation was inadequate, collapsing as two unauthorized additional floors were being constructed.

Thus far, five fatalities have been confirmed; of the 105 injured, over two dozen remain hospitalized, many with head injuries and fractures.

The affected students, predominantly boys aged 12 to 19 in grades seven to 12, were praying at the time. Female students, praying elsewhere, managed to flee, according to survivor accounts.

Typically, rescues occur within the first day post-collapse; survival probabilities diminish significantly as time progresses.

On Thursday, approximately 220 workers were active at the site, with ambulances ready to swiftly transport any survivors discovered to hospitals. Authorities also prepared numerous body bags, subtly acknowledging the dwindling hope of finding survivors.

"Our focus is no longer on finding survivors, yet we proceed carefully," stated Suharyanto, head of Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency.

Missing person counts have fluctuated over the three-day recovery effort. Suharyanto admitted uncertainty about the precise number of students trapped, as estimates are based on school attendance and family reports.

"We fervently wish the 59 students are elsewhere," he stated. "Sometimes parents report missing children who are later found safe elsewhere. We hope and pray this is the case."

By Wednesday evening, hundreds of family members remained at the school, waiting anxiously for news since arriving after the incident. Provided with food and sleeping quarters by local authorities, they maintained their vigil in the school's corridors.

Hafiah, a mother who too uses one name, expressed her unwavering hope for her son, 15-year-old Muhammad Abdurrohman Nafis, a ninth-grader. Describing her son as a strong, hyperactive boy, she recalled sharing his favorite meal, satay rice, a day before the incident. He had ambitions to enroll in a mechanical engineering high school after graduating soon from the school.

"I can't give up hope while the rescue teams strive to save our children," Hafiah said, though she felt helpless. (AP) NPK NPK

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