“Evaluations are necessary. We aim to collect data on all pesantrens to assess and ensure the safety of their buildings and infrastructure,” Minister of State Secretariat Prasetyo Hadi said in Jakarta on Sunday.
Hadi emphasized that Prabowo had issued direct instructions to relevant ministries and the East Java provincial government in response to the tragedy, including the evacuation of students trapped under the rubble.
He assured the public that Prabowo is closely monitoring developments related to the incident.
“The President is receiving regular updates and has instructed the ministers, governor, and deputy governor to give this matter their full attention,” Hadi stated.
On the afternoon of September 29, a four-story building at Al Khoziny Pesantren in Buduran, Sidoarjo, collapsed while over one hundred students were performing prayers in the ground-floor prayer room. At the time, the third floor was undergoing renovation.
In response, central and regional governments swiftly deployed more than 400 search and rescue (SAR) personnel to evacuate victims trapped in the debris, racing against time in a high-risk and complex operation.
Deputy for Emergency Measures at the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Budi Irawan, reported that as of Sunday, 36 victims had been confirmed dead, with 27 others still believed to be trapped.
Meanwhile, the Surabaya SAR Agency reported that 104 individuals had survived the collapse as of Saturday, October 4. Evacuation efforts remain ongoing.
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Related news: Sidoarjo's Al Khoziny School collapse: Rescue teams race to save kids
Translator: Genta T/Mentari D, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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