Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School Update Collapses: Casualties Increase, 59 People Still Missing

The joint SAR team is looking for victims of the collapsed prayer room building at the Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School (Ponpes) in Buduran District, Sidoarjo, East Java, Monday (29/9/2025) night. (ANTARA)

SIDOARJO The joint search and rescue (SAR) team again found a number of victims in an operation to evacuate the ruins of the Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School building, Buduran, Sidoarjo, East Java, Wednesday, October 1. As of 22.00 WIB, five people were successfully evacuated alive, but one of them was critical and needed intensive care at the Sidoarjo Hospital.

In addition, two victims were found dead, bringing the total death toll from the collapse of the pesantren building to five people. The victim's body was taken to Siti Hajar Hospital for further treatment.

Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center Abdul Muhari said the SAR team was still trying to ensure the whereabouts of one other person who had previously been detected alive behind the rubble.

"The victim's position is at a point that is difficult to reach, so it requires a special strategy so that the evacuation process does not pose additional risks for victims or officers," said Abdul, Thursday, October 10.

The use of heavy equipment has so far not been optimized because the collapsed building structure is very unstable and has the potential to add to the danger of being shaken.

BNPB together with Basarnas and the East Java Provincial Government stated, if signs of life are no longer found, they will invite the victim's family to consult before deciding to use heavy equipment to speed up the evacuation process.

Temporary data as of Wednesday, October 1 at 23.00 WIB showed that 59 people were suspected of being trapped in the rubble. This number was obtained from the absence of Islamic boarding schools and reports of loss from families.

BNPB confirmed that this data is dynamic, given the possibility that some names were registered but were not at the scene at the time of the incident or had not reported themselves after they survived.