Sidoarjo, East Java (ANTARA) - A total of 113 people were affected by the collapse of a musalla or a prayer space at Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School in Sidoarjo, East Java, on Monday (September 29).The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) conveyed that as of Friday (October 3), the total number of victims has reached 113, consisting of 10 fatalities and 103 survivors.
Head of the Surabaya Basarnas Office, Nanang Sigit, at the joint SAR post explained that five more victims were found dead on Friday.
The first was discovered at 7:30 a.m. local time, followed by the second at 7:35 a.m., the third at 10:17 a.m., the fourth at 11:34 a.m., and the fifth at 2 p.m.
All five victims are currently undergoing postmortem identification at Bhayangkara Hospital in Surabaya. Sigit explained that the rubble clearing using heavy equipment has so far reached 50 percent progress.
“We estimate the operation will be completed by Saturday evening,” he noted.
Baca juga: Government trains People's School students in creative economy
Heavy machinery has been deployed in sectors A3 and A4 at the rear of the building, while search teams are working manually in sectors A1 and A2.
"If a victim is seen, evacuation will be carried out immediately,” he added.
Most deceased victims were found in the wudhu or the ablution area, while others were located at the rear left side of the building.
Baca juga: Ministry to form taskforce to control operations of People's Schools
"We ensure that the placement of heavy equipment does not pose any risk to the personnel, so the area must be completely safe," he explained.
Sigit also stated that the demolition of the collapsed building materials and the search for victims will continue for the next 24 hours and is estimated to be completed by Saturday (October 4) evening.
