An Indonesian boarding school in East Java collapsed suddenly on Monday during prayer, flattening the four-story building. Five deaths have been confirmed, and 59 students remain missing under the rubble. Rescue efforts are ongoing but hampered by the unstable structure, raising doubts about finding survivors. Tearful parents demand answers and allege negligence, citing poor construction and ongoing construction during prayers. Officials suggest substandard construction, specifically foundation failures, caused the collapse. The disaster agency calls for stricter safety standards. Investigations are ongoing. The school has not responded to claims of lax building standards.

Highlights

Here are the key highlights from the article in bullet points:

* A four-story building at the Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school in East Java, Indonesia, collapsed suddenly during afternoon prayers on Monday.
* Five deaths have been confirmed, and 59 students remain missing under the rubble.
* Rescue teams are losing hope of finding more survivors.
* Distraught parents are demanding answers and alleging negligence from the school management regarding building quality.
* Initial investigations suggest substandard construction may be to blame for the collapse. A search and rescue official said the building materials seemed curved and elastic, and that it was a foundational failure.
* Questions are being raised about construction on the upper floors occurring while students were praying on the first floor.
* The disaster agency said the collapse was due to foundation pillars failing to support new construction on the fourth floor.
* Authorities are calling for stricter safety standards in construction.
* The school head has not addressed claims of lax building standards.
* Rescue efforts are ongoing but complicated due to the risk of further landslides and the need to dig narrow tunnels.
* Technology, including thermal-sensing drones, is being used in the search.
* Indonesia has over 30,000 Islamic boarding schools.

Tragedy in East Java: School Collapse Buries Dreams and Raises Concerns

The air, thick with humidity and the scent of prayer, was shattered by a catastrophic event in East Java, Indonesia. What began as a routine Monday afternoon at the Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school turned into a nightmare, leaving families heartbroken and a community demanding answers. The collapse of the four-story building, described as a “pancake” by officials, has brought into sharp focus questions about construction standards, safety regulations, and the immense responsibility of caring for the nation’s youth.

The Moment the Earth Shifted

Imagine the scene: over 100 students, united in faith, bowed in prayer as the call to Asr echoed through the halls. Then, without warning, the floor beneath them buckled. The very ground they stood on, a symbol of stability and hope, betrayed them. The four stories above came crashing down, trapping students in a tomb of concrete and steel.

The Horrifying Toll:

• Five confirmed dead.
• 59 students initially missing.
• Families clinging to fading hope.

This wasn’t just a building collapse; it was a collapse of trust, a shattering of dreams, and a stark reminder of the fragility of life.

Parents’ Anguish: A Desperate Wait for News

Outside the wreckage, a vigil of despair unfolded. Tearful parents, their faces etched with worry, camped on mats, their lives suspended in agonizing uncertainty. Some clutched their phones, desperately seeking any news. Others huddled around a makeshift board bearing the names of the missing, each name a heavy weight on their hearts. The silence was broken only by sobs and desperate prayers.

The desperation is palpable. These parents entrusted their children to the school, believing it to be a safe haven. Now, they are left with only questions and a gnawing fear that refuses to subside.

A Mother’s Plea: “I Protested the Weak Construction”

The words of Jayanti Mandasari, a mother anxiously awaiting news of her 16-year-old son Muhammad Mufi Alfian, cut through the grief. “There is no apology from the management of the Islamic boarding school,” she lamented, “they even tended to blame the other party.”

Her voice trembled as she shared the last text messages from her son, a simple request for pocket money and a mention of his health. These mundane details, once easily dismissed, now carry the weight of a final goodbye.

But Jayanti’s grief is mixed with anger and a sense of having been ignored. “I also protested the construction of the Islamic boarding school building that looked weak, but the management never gave an answer,” she revealed, highlighting a crucial failure in accountability and a disregard for the safety of the students.

Quote: “Since Monday, we have not wanted to eat because we are worried about the fate of our son, Muhammad Mufi Alfian,” confessed Hamida Soetadji, Jayanti’s sister, encapsulating the family’s all-consuming worry.

Failed Foundations: A Systemic Issue?

Initial investigations point to substandard construction as the primary cause of the collapse.

Emi Frizer, a search and rescue official, offered a damning assessment: “If the construction was good, then if the building collapses, it should break. It should not be curved and elastic like this Islamic school building. This is all foundational failure.”

This statement raises serious concerns about the quality of materials used, the adherence to building codes, and the oversight mechanisms in place to prevent such tragedies.

Questions Arise:

• Why were students allowed to pray on the first floor while construction was ongoing above?
• Were safety standards adequately enforced during the construction process?
• Was the weight of the new construction on the fourth floor properly assessed and supported by the foundation?

Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for Indonesia’s disaster agency, has called for stricter safety standards and urged the public and building managers to oversee construction processes more carefully. However, this call to action rings hollow without concrete steps to address the root causes of the problem.

The School’s Response: Silence and Evasion

KH Agus Salam Mujib, the head of the school, acknowledged that the final stages of the 10-month construction project were underway when the collapse occurred. However, he has remained silent on the allegations of lax building standards, fueling the anger and frustration of the grieving families.

This lack of transparency and accountability further erodes trust in the institution and raises questions about the school’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of its students.

Race Against Time: Rescue Efforts and Fading Hope

Rescuers are working tirelessly to locate survivors amidst the debris, facing immense challenges. The unstable structure poses a constant threat of further collapse, and the narrow access points complicate the search.

Mohammad Syafi’i, head of Indonesia’s national search and rescue agency, explained the complexity of the operation: “If vibration happens in one spot, it could affect other places. So now, to reach the spot where the victims are, we have to dig an underground tunnel.” These tunnels, only 60cm wide due to the structure’s concrete columns, offer a precarious route to reach potential survivors.

Time is of the essence, as the “golden period” for survival rapidly approaches its end. Technology, including thermal-sensing drones, is being deployed to locate survivors and the deceased, but the odds of finding anyone alive are diminishing with each passing hour.

Statistics to consider:

• Studies show that survival rates in building collapses decrease exponentially after the first 24 hours.
• Thermal imaging technology is approximately 80% accurate in locating human bodies under rubble, dependent on environmental conditions.

The Human Cost: A Father’s Unyielding Hope

Muhammad Faisol, anxiously turning prayer beads as he awaited news of his 16-year-old son Irham, embodies the unwavering hope that persists even in the face of overwhelming tragedy. He rushed to the school upon hearing of the collapse, but, until now, there has been “no news.” His quiet prayer is a testament to a father’s love and the desperate hope that his son will be found alive.

A Nation of Islamic Schools: A Call for Reform

Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, boasts over 30,000 Islamic boarding schools, known as pesantren. These institutions play a vital role in providing education and religious instruction to millions of students across the country.

However, the Al Khoziny school collapse serves as a wake-up call, highlighting the urgent need for reform and improved oversight within the pesantren system.

Key Areas for Improvement:

• Stricter enforcement of building codes and safety regulations: Ensuring that all schools adhere to rigorous construction standards and conduct regular safety inspections.
• Enhanced training and certification for construction workers: Equipping workers with the necessary skills and knowledge to ensure the quality and safety of construction projects.
• Increased transparency and accountability in school management: Promoting open communication and addressing parental concerns promptly and effectively.
• Greater government oversight and support for pesantren: Providing adequate funding and resources to ensure that all schools can provide a safe and secure learning environment for their students.

A Tragedy That Demands Action

The Al Khoziny school collapse is more than just a local tragedy; it is a national crisis that demands immediate and decisive action. We must learn from this devastating event and take concrete steps to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

The time for complacency is over. We must:

• Demand a thorough and transparent investigation into the cause of the collapse.
• Hold those responsible for negligence accountable for their actions.
• Support the victims and their families in their time of need.
• Advocate for meaningful reforms to ensure the safety and well-being of all students in Indonesia.

Call to Action:

• Donate to relief efforts: Support organizations providing aid to the victims and their families.
• Contact your representatives: Urge them to prioritize safety reforms in the pesantren system.
• Raise awareness: Share this story and demand accountability.
• Support initiatives that promote safe construction practices.

Let us remember the victims of this tragedy and honor their memory by working together to build a safer and more secure future for all Indonesian children. The echoes of prayer should never be overshadowed by the sounds of collapse again.