Rescuers say there are “no signs of life” beneath the ruins of a collapsed Indonesian school, where 59 people remain missing.
On Monday, the two-story Islamic boarding school in the town of Sidoarjo collapsed with hundreds of students inside; the majority of them were teenage boys. Officials reported that at least five students were killed and approximately 100 were injured.
Thirteen people have been pulled from the debris since rescue efforts began, but two have died in the hospital. Rescue attempts had been difficult due to the precarious condition of the building.
On Thursday, the disaster mitigation agency (BNBP) said that rescuers employing thermal drones were unable to locate signs of life in the rubble.
“Last night, we even [cleared] the area to ensure silence. [We] hoped that with the use of sophisticated equipment… we might hear some signs of life,” Lt. Gen. Suharyanto, the head of the BNBP, said at a press conference on Thursday afternoon.
“Scientifically, no signs of life were found.”
He said that the team had decided to proceed to the “next phase” of operations, which would involve the use of heavy machinery to move concrete slabs. These trash blocks will either be moved by cranes or chopped into smaller pieces.
Rescuers had been unable to do this earlier due to fears that it would cause the structure to collapse further, endangering the lives of any potential survivors.
Authorities reported on Wednesday that sobbing and shouting could still be heard from beneath the rubble.
Anxious families are waiting at the school, many of them in tears but holding out hope that their loved ones are still alive.
“I am hoping for the best news, that my brother survives,” said Maulana Bayu Rizky Pratama, whose 17-year-old brother is missing, told AFP news agency.
“I hope my brother will be found soon. I feel sad thinking of him being down there for four days.”
Ahmad Ikhsan, a 52-year-old father, told Reuters, “I believe my son is still alive.”
The BNBP reported on Wednesday that 59 individuals were still trapped in the rubble, though this figure has changed significantly over the last few days, with Suharyanto previously stating that data would always be “conflicting” in the “early stages” of a disaster.
The building was under construction when it fell, with two new stories being built. The BNBP later stated that the building’s shaky base prevented it from supporting this weight.
The regent of Sidoarjo town said the school’s management did not seek permits to add further levels to the building.
