Indonesia school collapse toll rises to 8, say rescue officials

Rescuers detected "no more signs of life" at a collapsed Indonesian school where 59 people were believed missing days after it gave way, raising fears no more survivors would be found. Photo / Juni Kriswanto, AFP

The death toll in an Indonesian school collapse rose to eight on Friday, officials said, but dozens were still believed under the rubble without signs of life days after the disaster.

Part of the multi-storey boarding school in the town of Sidoarjo collapsed suddenly on Monday as students gathered for afternoon prayers, leaving rescuers racing to find dozens missing in the rubble.

Two male students who had been hit by debris were discovered on Friday in the ablution area, national search and rescue agency operations director Yudhi Bramantyo told reporters.

“So the total victims who have been found dead is seven,” he said.

Nanang Sigit, head of Surabaya Search and Rescue Office, later told reporters a third victim was found under debris “not far from” the other two bodies on Friday, bringing the toll to eight.

Officials had said 59 people were feared missing before the three bodies were found.

Distraught families have been waiting anxiously near the site for news of their loved ones.

Investigations into the cause of the collapse are continuing but initial signs pointed to substandard construction, experts have said.

The rescue operation is complex because vibrations happening in one place can affect other areas, officials say.

But the families of the missing agreed on Thursday for heavy equipment to be used.

At least one crane was deployed to clear the rubble, with more expected to be called upon to speed up recovery efforts after the 72-hour “golden period” for the best chance of survival came to an end.

The rescue operation was complicated by an earthquake that struck overnight on Tuesday, briefly halting the search.

-Agence France-Presse