Deadly School Building Collapse in Indonesia Traps Dozens

1 DAY AGO·UPDATED 22 HOURS AGO

story

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.

RFI Newsweek

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.

Daily Mail Newsmax