In a tragic incident in East Java, Indonesia, rescuers are in a desperate race to locate 38 individuals believed to be trapped under the rubble of the Al-Khoziny Islamic Boarding School, which collapsed on Monday. The disaster has already claimed the lives of three students, with 99 others hospitalized, some in critical condition. Hundreds of teenage boys had gathered in the two-storey building for prayers when it caved in, leaving families in anguish as they await news of their loved ones. Authorities report that cries and shouts can still be heard from beneath the debris, offering a glimmer of hope for survivors. Rescue operations, however, are fraught with danger as the unstable structure threatens further collapse. The school was undergoing construction to add two additional floors, but the building’s weak foundations could not support the weight, according to the disaster mitigation agency. Sidoarjo’s regent revealed that the school management had failed to obtain the necessary permits for the expansion. Since Monday, 11 people have been rescued, though two later succumbed to their injuries. One survivor remains responsive but immobilized, prompting rescuers to construct a tunnel to reach him. Civil engineering expert Mudji Irmawan warned that removing debris could destabilize the structure, while Basarnas head Mohammad Syafii emphasized the risks of shifting concrete slabs, which could endanger trapped survivors. Rescuers are working within a narrow 60cm access point, navigating underground culverts to reach victims. The 72-hour “golden timeframe” for rescue is critical, though Syafii noted that survivors could endure longer with fluids and vitamins. Among the survivors is 13-year-old Muhammad Rijalul Qoib, who recounted the terrifying moments before the collapse. “I heard the sound of falling rocks, and it got louder,” he said. Rijalul managed to escape with help but was struck by debris. Tragically, not all were as fortunate. Maulana Alvan Ibrahimavic, a recent elementary school graduate, was among those killed. His body was escorted to a funeral home in his hometown of Blega district, marking a somber end to a devastating event.