Rescue teams in Indonesia have recovered 35 additional bodies over the weekend from the rubble of a collapsed Islamic boarding school prayer hall, bringing the confirmed death toll to 49 students.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency reported that 14 students remain missing following the September 29 collapse at the century-old Al Khoziny school in Sidoarjo, located on Java island’s eastern side. Using heavy excavators, jackhammers, circular saws, and sometimes bare hands, rescuers continue working through tons of debris.
Why It Matters
The tragedy has exposed widespread concerns about illegal construction practices across Indonesia, particularly in non-urban areas where building regulations are often ignored.
The incident involved hundreds of students—mostly boys aged 12 to 19—who were inside the structure when it collapsed. Police investigations revealed that two additional floors were being added to the two-story building without proper permits, triggering structural failure.
What To Know
The collapse occurred while workers were pouring concrete for a third-floor addition on the building, which could not support the additional load. Construction expert Mudji Irmawan from Tenth November Institute of Technology told the Associated Press that the 800-square-meter structure failed because “it didn’t meet standards.” He also criticized the decision to allow students inside a building actively under construction.
Of the hundreds of students trapped in the collapse, only one escaped without injury. Authorities reported that 97 students received treatment for various injuries and were released, while six others remained hospitalized Sunday with serious injuries. Sidoarjo district chief Subandi confirmed that the school’s management never applied for required construction permits, a violation that is common for boarding school expansions in non-urban regions.
Indonesia’s 2002 Building Construction code mandates that authorities must issue permits before any construction begins. Violations carry significant penalties, including fines and imprisonment. When violations result in death, perpetrators face up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to 8 billion rupiah (nearly $500,000).
What People Are Saying
Abdus Salam Mujib, school caretaker and respected Islamic cleric, offered a public apology after the incident: “This is indeed God’s will, so we must all be patient, and may God replace it with goodness, with something much better. We must be confident that God will reward those affected by this incident with great rewards.”
Subandi, Sidoarjo District Chief told the AP: “Many buildings, including traditional boarding school extensions, in non-urban areas were built without a permit.”
Nanang Avianto, East Java Police Chief: “We will investigate this case thoroughly. Our investigation also requires guidance from a team of construction experts to determine whether negligence by the school led to the deaths.”
What Happens Next?
East Java police have launched a criminal investigation with assistance from construction experts to determine whether the school’s negligence directly caused the deaths.
Meanwhile, rescue operations continue as teams search for the 14 students still unaccounted for beneath the rubble.
Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.
