Sidlho, Indonesia (AP) – At least 91 students remain trapped in concrete tile ble after almost two days Islamic school building collapsed About them, authorities said after reviewing attendance records and reports from uneasy families of missing people.
More than 300 rescuers worked desperately to free the survivors Wednesday morning. The structure has fallen Hundreds of people, mostly teenagers, were praying Monday afternoons in the prayer hall of the Arkozyni Islamic Boarding School, a century ago in East Java, where unauthorized expansion was underway.
At least three students have been killed, 100 others have been injured, many suffering head injuries and fractures.
The National Disaster Management Agency revised the number of people estimated to have been buried in the tiled rub from the previous 38 to 91 at the end of Tuesday.
The agency said at least six children were living under the tiled rub, but the search was made difficult by slabs of heavy parts of concrete and other unstable buildings. Heavy equipment was available but not used due to concerns that it could collapse further.
Rescuers run from narrow gaps to people still trapped under the debris to keep them alive.
The students were mainly boys from grades 7 to 12. The female students were able to pray and escape in another part of the building, the survivors said.
Authorities say the prayer hall was two stories, but two more stories were added without permission. Police said the old building’s foundation was clearly unable to support the concrete on the second floor and collapsed during the injection process.
