Nearly 100 injured children, several dead feared and dozens trapped after the collapse of the Indonesian school

The rescuers ran from oxygen and water to students trapped in the unstable concrete rubble from an collapsed school building in Indonesia, while they were desperately working to release the survivors on Tuesday morning more than 12 hours after the fall in the structure.

At least one student was killed, dozens were injured and 65 were presumed buried in the rubble. Rescuers say that the number of deaths will probably increase.

The rescuers, police and soldiers digging at night withdrew eight weak survivors and injured more than eight hours after the collapse of the Islamic boarding school in Al Khoziny in the city of Sidearjo de Java de l’Est.

A male student was killed and 99 other students were taken to injured hospitals, some of whom in critical condition, officials said.

The families of students gathered in hospitals or near the collapsed building, looking forward to news from their children. Parents groaned by watching the rescuers shoot a dusty and injured student from a buried room.

A display table of the command post set up in the boarding school complex listed 65 people missing on Tuesday morning. The students were mainly boys from the seventh to the 11th year, between 12 and 17 years old.

“Please find my child,” pleads parent

“My son is still buried. Oh my God, please help!” A mother cried hysterically by seeing the name of her child on the board of directors, followed by the cries of other parents whose relatives had undergone a similar spell.

“Please, sir, please find my child immediately,” cried a father, holding the hand of one of the members of the rescue team.

Strong concrete plates and other rubble and unstable parts of the building have hampered research and rescue efforts, said Nanang Sigit, a research and rescue agent who led the effort. Heavy equipment was available but not used due to concerns that it could cause additional collapse.

“We have led oxygen and water to those who are always trapped under debris and keep them alive while we work hard to get them out,” said Sigit.

He added that the rescuers saw several bodies dispersed under the rubble, but they focused on the safeguard of those who were still alive. Several hundred rescuers have been involved in the effort.

Students had made afternoon prayers in a building that underwent unauthorized expansion when she suddenly collapsed, said provincial police spokesperson Abraham Abast.

Residents, teachers and administrators helped injured students, many head injuries and broken bones. Students prayed in another part of the building and managed to escape, said the survivors.

The authorities were investigating the cause of the collapse. Abast said that the old prayer room was two floors, but two additional levels were added without a license.

“The foundation of the old building has apparently not been able to support two concrete floors and collapsed during the payment process,” said Abast.