'Illegal Build' Blamed as School Collapse Kills 67 Muslim Students

The nine-day search and rescue operation for victims of the collapsed Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School in Sidoarjo, East Java, has officially concluded, confirming a final death toll of 67 people, predominantly young male students. The tragedy, which occurred on September 29, has been officially classified by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) as Indonesia’s deadliest non-natural disaster of 2025 and has sparked a nationwide reckoning over the structural safety and regulatory oversight of the country’s vast network of Islamic boarding schools, or pesantren.

The Final Toll and Search Conclusion

The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) formally ended the operation on Tuesday after clearing all debris from the collapse site. Basarnas Operations Director Commodore Yudhi Bramantyo stated that a total of 171 victims were found during the intensive search and recovery efforts. Of that number, 104 people were rescued alive, while 67 were confirmed deceased. Rescuers also recovered eight unidentified body parts, which have been handed over to the police's Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team for examination and may belong to victims already accounted for.

The disaster struck on a Monday afternoon as over 170 students, known as santri, mostly boys between the ages of 12 and 19, were performing congregational Asr prayers in the multi-story building. The structure, described by one official as having "pancake-collapsed," rapidly disintegrated, trapping hundreds. Only one student is reported to have escaped completely unscathed, and 97 people were treated for injuries, though several suffered serious head trauma and broken bones, with a few requiring amputations.

Identification of the victims proved challenging due to the state of the bodies, with authorities relying heavily on DNA testing. Relatives provided samples at the Bhayangkara Police Hospital in Surabaya, the provincial capital, with 17 bodies officially identified and released to families by Monday.

Illegal Construction and Structural Failure Pinpointed

Initial investigations by authorities and construction experts point to a catastrophic structural failure compounded by illegal construction. The century-old building, which originally had two stories, was undergoing an unauthorized expansion to add two new levels. Police confirmed that the school management had not secured the required building permit (IMB) before commencing the construction.

Construction expert Mudji Irmawan of the Tenth November Institute of Technology suggested that the collapse occurred because the building’s existing foundation was unable to support the weight of the new concrete being poured for the upper floors. "The construction couldn't support the load... because it didn't meet standards, and the whole 800 square meters construction collapsed,” Irmawan stated. The construction was reportedly in its final stages after a 10-month project.

Government Pledges Comprehensive Safety Reform

The tragedy has prompted immediate and far-reaching action from the Indonesian government. President Prabowo Subianto has ordered a comprehensive, nationwide safety evaluation of all pesantren buildings.

Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Muhaimin Iskandar has been tasked with inspecting and renovating official pesantren buildings and ensuring that school management complies with safety standards for future construction.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs (MORA) is also taking significant steps to address the systemic issues. The ministry has pledged to:

Establish New Building Standards: MORA will coordinate with the Ministry of Public Works and other stakeholders to set and enforce stricter construction and building safety standards specifically for pesantren facilities.

Conduct Nationwide Architectural Reviews: The ministry will conduct architectural reviews of all Islamic boarding schools and plans to make safety-related documentation a mandatory requirement for issuing pesantren establishment permits.

Provide Technical Support: The government will explore mechanisms to assist schools with construction and renovation, offering technical support to ensure safety and durability, particularly for the many schools traditionally built through self-help and with suboptimal technical supervision.

Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar called the incident a solemn lesson for all stakeholders, urging the improvement of school facilities and a renewed focus on technical construction adherence to safety regulations to ensure the safety and security of students nationwide. The government's resolve seeks to restore confidence in the pesantren system, which remains a cornerstone of Indonesia’s education and culture.