At least 91 people remain trapped beneath rubble following the collapse of a religious school in Indonesia, according to government authorities.

Indonesia’s National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB) released the updated figures late on Tuesday, raising the number from an earlier estimate of 38.

The agency confirmed that at least six people are still alive under the debris, where they have been trapped for nearly two days.

“Rescue efforts are currently being conducted manually by digging holes and openings to evacuate survivors,” BNPB said in a statement on Facebook, warning that the use of heavy machinery could cause further collapse.

“The joint search and rescue team has detected signs of six people still alive in one section of the collapse. Through existing gaps, rescuers have been able to deliver food and water to sustain the victims,” it added.

The official death toll currently stands at three, with nearly 100 others injured. However, these figures do not include those still trapped beneath the building. Of the injured, 70 have been discharged while 26 remain in hospital, BNPB said.

More than 300 personnel from BNPB, the military, and the national police have been deployed to the site of the collapse at the Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School in Sidoarjo, East Java. The building came down on Monday afternoon while students, mostly teenage boys, and staff were attending prayers.

“If the assessment concludes there are no more survivors, the next phase will involve the use of heavy equipment to recover deceased victims still trapped,” the agency stated.

Authorities said the collapse occurred after the school’s foundational pillars gave way during unauthorised construction on an upper floor.

Source: Al Jazeera 

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