Rescue teams are working tirelessly to save dozens of students and workers trapped beneath the rubble of a collapsed school building in East Java, Indonesia. The incident, which occurred on Monday at the Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School in Sidoarjo, has already claimed three lives and left 99 others hospitalized, some with critical injuries. Authorities fear the death toll may rise as at least 38 individuals, predominantly teenage boys, remain unaccounted for. The collapse happened during a prayer gathering, with the two-story building succumbing to its unstable foundation, exacerbated by the ongoing construction of two additional floors. The disaster mitigation agency described the structure as having a ‘pancake-like’ formation, with layers of concrete slabs creating narrow voids that complicate rescue efforts. The girls, who were praying in a separate section of the building, managed to escape unharmed. Local media footage depicts the collapsed section of the building completely sunken, with large concrete slabs protruding. The sounds of crying and shouting emanate from the rubble, as anxious relatives camp outside the school, desperate for news of their loved ones. Rescue operations were temporarily halted on Tuesday due to the risk of further collapse. Mohammad Syafeii, head of the search and rescue agency Basarnas, highlighted the challenges of using heavy equipment, which, while aiding in lifting concrete slabs, could endanger survivors still trapped. The agency is preparing a specialized operation, deploying units equipped with advanced extrication tools. Families of the missing, like Rosida, whose son Kaffa Ahmad Maulana is among those trapped, are enduring agonizing waits. Survivors, such as seventh-grader Muhammad Rijalul Qoib, recounted their narrow escapes, describing the terrifying moments before the collapse. The school’s caretaker, KH Abdus Salam Mujib, apologized to the families, attributing the tragedy to ‘God’s will.’ Sidoarjo’s regent revealed that the school had not obtained the necessary permits for the building’s expansion. Al Khoziny, a traditional Islamic boarding school, or pesantren, falls under the jurisdiction of Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs, which often lacks stringent oversight. This incident underscores Indonesia’s poor construction safety record, as highlighted by the International Labour Organization. Earlier this month, a similar tragedy in West Java resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries.