Catastrophe at Indonesian Boarding School: Death Toll Climbs to 49 as Rescue Efforts for Lost Students Continues

Indonesia's emergency crews recovered dozens additional bodies over the past few days, bringing the total number of deaths to 49 after a worship space at an Islamic boarding school fell down last week.

Intensive Rescue Operations In Progress

Using heavy excavators outfitted with breaking equipment, circular saws and at times their own hands, rescue teams extracted massive amounts of wreckage in a critical attempt to find the 14 scholars allegedly still missing. Emergency workers found 35 bodies over the weekend alone, according to the government disaster agency.

Timeline of the Heartbreaking Collapse

The construction fell on top of hundreds of students – mostly young men aged 12 to 19 – on 29 September at the century-old boarding school in Sidoarjo. Of those saved, 97 were cared for for different wounds and discharged. Six others suffered severe wounds and continued to be under medical care on Sunday.

Reason of Structural Failure Revealed

Authorities allege that extra stories were being built to the existing building lacking a construction license, causing building collapse. This has triggered widespread anger over illegal construction in Indonesia.

“The construction failed to withstand the weight while the concrete was being poured [to build] the new story because it didn't meet safety requirements and the entire 800-square-metres structure collapsed,” said a building specialist from Tenth November Institute of Technology.

The expert also said that scholars should not have been allowed inside a facility undergoing construction.

Government Statement

The local district head acknowledged the educational facility's leadership had not sought the necessary license before starting construction.

“Many constructions, such as conventional boarding school extensions, in rural regions were constructed without a permit,” the official stated.

Judicial Ramifications

The nation's building safety laws state that licenses have to be issued by the appropriate agencies before any construction project, or else proprietors face fines and incarceration. If a infraction causes loss of life, this can result in up to 15 years in incarceration and a fine of up to 8bn local currency (nearly $500,000).

Address from School Management

The school's caretaker, a prominent Islamic cleric in the region, offered a formal apology in a unusual public statement a day after the incident.

“This is truly a test from God so we must all be patient, and may God substitute it with something better, with something far superior,” he said. “We must be certain that God will reward those touched by this tragedy with great rewards.”

Current Probe

Criminal probes related to religious leaders are still contentious in the largest Muslim-majority nation.

There has been silence from institution administrators since the incident.

“We will examine this incident thoroughly,” East Java's top law enforcement officer announced on Sunday.

“Our inquiry also needs guidance from a group of building specialists to determine whether negligence by the institution resulted in the deaths.”