An episode of sheer terror occurred this weekend in East Java province, Indonesia, with the country still reeling under the wrath of severe weather. Dozens of young students scrambled for their lives as the roof of the Nuris Jaban Boarding School was sheared off by violent winds in a dramatic incident captured on camera.
The incident happened during an intense period of unseasonal rainfall that local authorities and residents have felt unprepared for. With the strong eye of the storm upon Mojokerto, the structural integrity of the school's upper dormitory and assembly area gave way beneath the forces of a localized "downburst," a vigorous wind event frequently linked to intense thunderstorms.
The ‘Run for Life’ Caught on Mobile
The disturbing movie which has since become a viral hit in online forums has students initially clustered nearby as the building shuddered. Within moments, the sound of screeching metal filled the air. The entire roof structure was lifted into the sky like a sheet of paper.
Panicked shouts of "Allahu Akbar" and screams for help can be heard as students are seen running "helter-skelter" (edno bidno) to find cover. The video captures the moments debris and heavy tiles rained down into the courtyard, narrowly missing several children who were sprinting toward the lower-level reinforced concrete structures.
The Toll of Unseasonal Rain
Indonesia is experiencing a peculiar weather trend that meteorologists characterize as an “atypical monsoon extension.” February typically marks the transition but 2026 has seen record precipitation levels across Java and Sumatra.
- Mojokerto Impact: On top of schools, many homes in the neighboring district have reported major structural damage.
- Casualties: Surprisingly, school administrators reported that while a number of students have suffered minor injury and are being treated for shock, there were no fatalities suffered in the incident itself.
- Regional Crisis: landslides prompted by the same rain system have blocked major transit roads in East Java, making relief efforts more complicated.
Responding of the Government and Safety Warnings
The Indonesian Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has issued a high-level warning on the East Java area, advising that the unstable atmosphere may persist for the next 48 hours. Local authorities have made arrangements to visit the Nuris Jaban Boarding School to check for damage, and issued a temporary shutdown order on the site until a detailed safety exam has been completed.
“The priority is the psychological health of these children who have seen something as close to a true death as they have encountered,” a local district representative said. But in a time of increasing climate volatility, this incident stands as a dark reminder of infrastructure’s susceptibility in the face of the intensifying fury of nature.
