Rescue teams have recovered three more bodies from the rubble of a collapsed building in Surabaya Indonesia, bringing the confirmed death toll to eight, officials said Friday.
Two male students were pulled from the debris in the ablution area, according to Yudhi Bramantyo, operations director of the national search and rescue agency. “So the total victims who have been found dead is seven,” he told reporters earlier in the day.
Hours later, Nanang Sigit, head of the Surabaya Search and Rescue Office, confirmed that another victim had been found nearby, raising the casualty figure to eight.
Authorities had earlier estimated that 59 people were still unaccounted for before the latest discoveries.
Families of the missing have been waiting anxiously at the scene, clinging to hope for news of their loved ones.
Investigations into the cause of the collapse are ongoing, but initial findings suggest poor construction standards may have played a role.
Experts warned that the recovery effort is delicate, as vibrations in one area could cause further damage elsewhere.
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Despite these risks, families agreed on Thursday to allow the use of heavy machinery.
At least one crane has since been deployed to clear the debris, with more equipment expected as the search moves past the 72-hour “golden window” when chances of survival are highest.
Complicating the operation further, a tremor that struck on Tuesday temporarily forced rescuers to halt work.
Officials say the mission remains dangerous but vowed to continue until every missing person is accounted for.