Rescuers Recover 35 Bodies in Sidoarjo, Raising School Collapse Death Toll to 49

Rescue operations continued in Sidoarjo on Indonesia's Java Island as teams sifted through rubble from the collapsed prayer hall of the Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school, recovering 35 bodies over the weekend and raising the death toll to 49. The tragedy, which struck on September 29 during the construction of unauthorised additional floors, has left 14 students unaccounted for amid public outrage over lax building regulations. Hundreds of students, primarily boys aged 12 to 19, were inside the century-old structure when it failed, with only one escaping unharmed and 97 others treated for injuries before release. Six remain hospitalised with severe conditions.

Heavy machinery, including excavators fitted with jackhammers and circular saws, along with manual efforts by rescuers using bare hands, has been deployed to clear over 800 square metres of debris. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported the grim weekend discoveries, underscoring the scale of the disaster at this respected East Java institution. The school's prayer hall, a communal space for the pesantren—a traditional Islamic boarding school system deeply embedded in Indonesian culture—symbolised community and learning, making the collapse a profound loss for families and the local Muslim-majority region.

Authorities attribute the structural failure to unpermitted expansions that violated Indonesia's 2002 Building Construction Code, which mandates approvals for any modifications to ensure safety standards. Construction expert Mudji Irmawan from the Ten November Institute of Technology explained that the third-floor concrete pour overloaded the unsupported framework, causing a catastrophic collapse. "Students shouldn't have been allowed inside a building under construction," he noted, highlighting negligence in safety protocols.

Sidoarjo district chief Subandi confirmed the school's management bypassed permit requirements, a common issue in rural areas where traditional pesantren expansions often evade oversight due to resource constraints and cultural deference to religious leaders.

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In a rare public statement, school caretaker Abdus Salam Mujib, a prominent East Java cleric, apologised and framed the event as divine will, urging patience and faith for the bereaved. "May God replace it with something much better," he said, though no further comments have emerged from officials. East Java Police Chief Nanang Avianto vowed a thorough probe, involving construction experts to assess negligence, potentially leading to charges carrying up to 15 years in prison and fines nearing USD 500,000 if deaths are linked to violations.

This incident amplifies calls for stricter enforcement in Indonesia, where illegal builds contribute to frequent disasters, and probes into clerical figures remain delicate in the world's largest Muslim nation.

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