Rescuers recovered nine bodies on Friday from a collapsed Indonesian boarding school, and the death toll climbed to 14 as crews prepared heavy equipment to search for 49 missing victims. The multi-story building crumbled on Monday while students assembled for afternoon prayers, and the collapse produced tremors felt across the neighborhood. National Disaster Mitigation Agency chief Suharyanto stated crews would focus on clearing areas where victims remained buried beneath debris after the 72-hour survival window expired on Thursday.
Families of the missing authorized the use of heavy machinery after initial rescue attempts proved insufficient. Officials warned that vibrations from equipment could destabilize other sections of the structure, but investigators suspect substandard construction caused the disaster. A Tuesday earthquake briefly halted operations, and experts continue examining the site to determine the exact cause of the collapse.
Families of the missing authorized the use of heavy machinery after initial rescue attempts proved insufficient. Officials warned that vibrations from equipment could destabilize other sections of the structure, but investigators suspect substandard construction caused the disaster. A Tuesday earthquake briefly halted operations, and experts continue examining the site to determine the exact cause of the collapse.
