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View all search resultsBoarding school collapse toll rises to 10: Rescue officials
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The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) search for victims amidst the rubble of a collapsed building after a hall collapsed while students were praying at the Al-Khoziny Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo, East Java, Sept. 29, 2025. (Reuters/Stringer)
T
he death toll in a boarding school collapse rose to 10 on Friday, officials said, but dozens were still believed under the rubble without signs of life days after the disaster.
Part of the multi-story school in Sidoarjo, East Java, collapsed suddenly on Monday as students gathered for afternoon prayers.
Nanang Sigit, head of the Surabaya branch of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) told reporters that "today we found five victims, they all were found dead," taking the overall death toll to 10.
Two male students who had been hit by debris were discovered on Friday in the school's ablution area, according to Yudhi Bramantyo, the operations director of the Basarnas.
Nanang said a third victim was found under debris "not far from" the other two, but did not disclose details about the fourth and fifth bodies found on Friday.
Officials had said 59 people were feared missing before the five bodies were found.
Distraught families have been waiting anxiously near the site for news of their loved ones.
Investigators have been looking into the cause of the collapse, but initial signs pointed to substandard construction, experts have said.
The rescue operation is complex because vibrations happening in one place can affect other areas, officials said.
But the families of the missing agreed on Thursday for heavy equipment to be used, after the 72-hour "golden period" for the best chance of survival came to an end.
At least one crane was deployed to clear the rubble, with more expected to be called upon to speed up recovery efforts.
The rescue operation was complicated by an earthquake that struck overnight on Tuesday, briefly halting the search.
