Rescue operations continue in Sidoarjo, Indonesia, where the collapse of a prayer hall at the Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school has resulted in a tragic death toll of 37. The incident, which occurred on September 30, 2023, has left 26 students still unaccounted for as search teams work tirelessly to locate them.
Using a range of tools from jackhammers to circular saws, rescue teams have been sifting through the rubble of the century-old school. The building fell during a prayer session, trapping students, predominantly boys aged between 12 and 19. Reports indicate that only one student managed to escape without injuries, while 95 others were treated and released from local hospitals. Eight students remain hospitalized with serious injuries.
Authorities have pointed to structural issues as a critical factor in the collapse. Police have revealed that the school’s management added two additional floors to the existing two-story building without the necessary permits. This lack of compliance with building regulations has sparked widespread outrage over illegal construction practices in Indonesia.
Mudji Irmawan, a construction expert from the Tenth November Institute of Technology, emphasized that the building could not support the weight added during the construction of the third floor. He noted, “The construction couldn’t support the load while the concrete was pouring… the whole 800 square meters construction collapsed.” Irmawan also stressed that students should not have been allowed inside a building undergoing construction.
Subandi, the district chief of Sidoarjo, confirmed the police’s findings, stating that the school had not applied for the required construction permit. He remarked, “Many buildings, including traditional boarding school extensions, in non-urban areas were built without a permit.”
The school’s caretaker, Abdus Salam Mujib, a respected Islamic cleric, publicly expressed his condolences in a rare appearance following the disaster. He stated, “This is indeed God’s will, so we must all be patient, and may God replace it with goodness.” His comments reflect the sensitive nature of criminal investigations involving religious figures in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation.
Since the incident, school officials have remained silent, with no further comments issued. East Java Police Chief Nanang Avianto has pledged a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collapse. “Our investigation also requires guidance from a team of construction experts to determine whether negligence by the school led to the deaths,” he stated.
As rescue efforts progress, the community grapples with the implications of this tragedy. The incident has intensified scrutiny on construction practices across Indonesia, highlighting the need for stricter enforcement of safety regulations to prevent similar disasters in the future.
