Doha: Search and rescue operations are underway in Sidoarjo, East Java, as authorities strive to locate 38 individuals believed to be trapped beneath the debris of the Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School, which collapsed earlier today.

According to Qatar News Agency, Indonesia's National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure (BNPB) has mobilized rescue teams who have been working tirelessly since the morning. Despite challenging conditions, these teams are employing heavy machinery and police dogs to access the victims.

Abdul Muhari, Head of BNPB's Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center, reported that 38 people remain missing, while 102 individuals have been evacuated from the site. Out of those evacuated, 91 were able to escape independently, and 11 were rescued by coordinated search and rescue teams.

Tragically, Muhari confirmed that one of the 11 rescued individuals was found deceased. Additionally, 77 people who sustained injuries have been transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Muhari emphasized the importance of stringent construction oversight, particularly for multi-story buildings serving educational purposes and housing numerous occupants. Preliminary investigations suggest that the building's foundation could not support the weight of ongoing construction on the fourth floor, resulting in the building's collapse.