The death toll from the collapse of a prayer hall at an Islamic boarding school in Indonesia has risen to 54, as rescuers continue to search for 14 missing students. The structure fell on hundreds of students, mostly boys aged 12 to 19, on 29 September at the Al Khoziny school in Sidoarjo, East Java.
Using heavy excavators and sometimes their bare hands, rescue teams removed rubble over the weekend, recovering 35 bodies. Search and rescue official Yudhi Bramantyo confirmed the death toll, adding that they hoped to conclude the recovery today. 97 students were treated for injuries and released, while six remain hospitalised with serious injuries.
Police allege that two levels were being added to the two-storey building without a permit, leading to structural failure. Construction expert Mudji Irmawan said the concrete pour for the third floor caused the collapse because the construction did not meet standards. He added that students should not have been inside a building under construction.
Sidoarjo district chief Subandi confirmed the school had not applied for the required permit. Indonesia's building code requires permits before construction, with violations leading to fines and up to 15 years in prison if deaths occur. The school's caretaker, Abdus Salam Mujib, offered a public apology, attributing the incident to God's will.
East Java police chief Nanang Avianto said a thorough investigation would be conducted, including guidance from construction experts to determine negligence. No comment has been made by school officials since the collapse.
