Three dead and dozens trapped under rubble after Indonesia school collapse
Independent1 day
Deadly School Building Collapse in Indonesia Traps Dozens
Above: Rescue personnel search for survivors after a building collapsed in Sidoarjo, East Java, on Sept. 29, 2025. Image copyright: Juni Kriswanto/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Government-critical narrative
Indonesia's lax construction standards and widespread practice of building without proper oversight created this preventable disaster. The country allows partially completed structures with owners adding floors later when budgets permit, creating a dangerous built environment. Stricter safety standards and enhanced oversight are urgently needed to prevent further tragedies.
Pro-government narrative
While omissions in building safety and permit enforcement are being investigated, rescue workers race against time, heroically digging through debris all night, providing oxygen and water to trapped survivors. They must be applauded for coordinating tirelessly, facing collapsing walls, aftershocks and dwindling daylight in the desperate effort to save lives. The government is diligently focusing on the immediate response.