Indonesia school collapse death toll rises to 7

The death toll from a school collapse on Indonesia’s main island of Java rose to seven on Friday after rescuers pulled two more bodies from the rubble, officials said.

Part of a multi-storey Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo collapsed on Monday as students gathered for afternoon prayers, trapping dozens.

National search and rescue agency operations director Yudhi Bramantyo said the bodies of two male students were recovered in the ablution area. “So the total victims who have been found dead is seven,” he told reporters.

Officials had earlier said 59 people were feared missing. Families have been waiting near the site for updates on their loved ones.

An investigation is under way, with initial findings pointing to substandard construction. Rescue efforts have been complicated by the risk of further collapses and were briefly halted after an earthquake on Tuesday night.

Heavy equipment, including cranes, has been brought in to speed up recovery after the 72-hour “golden period” for survival expired.