Jakarta: The death toll from the collapse of a school building in Indonesia's East Java province has risen to five as rescuers successfully retrieved two additional bodies from the debris, rescue officials reported on Wednesday. Efforts continue as approximately 84 students are believed to be trapped under the rubble, prompting rescuers to race against time to find survivors.

According to Anadolu Agency, Nanang Sigit, head of the East Java Search and Rescue Office, informed reporters that seven students have been evacuated, five of whom are alive while two have been declared dead. Initially, reports on Tuesday indicated that three individuals had died due to the collapse. However, state-run Antara news agency later stated the death toll as four, with numerous injuries reported from the incident.

Head of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), Mohammad Syafii, confirmed that as of Wednesday, 13 victims had been extracted from the wreckage. The collapse is currently under investigation, with initial findings suggesting that the foundation pillars failed under the additional weight of a newly constructed fourth floor.

A comprehensive search and rescue operation comprising 332 personnel has been mobilized. This includes teams from local disaster agencies, police, and military officials. While heavy machinery is on standby, concerns about potential further collapse due to vibrations have prevented its immediate use.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency reported that the incident occurred at Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School during a prayer gathering attended by hundreds of students. A total of 102 individuals have been rescued, with 77 requiring hospital treatment. Of those, 26 are still receiving medical care, while the remainder have been discharged.