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Illegal Construction Blamed for Tragic Building Failure at Indonesian School
6 Oct
Summary
- Boarding school prayer hall collapsed, killing 45 students
- Rescue teams search for 18 missing students using heavy machinery
- Illegal construction of additional floors cited as cause of structural failure
On Tuesday, a prayer hall at a boarding school in Sidoarjo, Indonesia collapsed, resulting in a devastating tragedy. As of this past weekend, rescue teams have recovered more than two dozen bodies, bringing the confirmed death toll to 45 students.
The search for the 18 students still reported missing continues, with rescue teams using a variety of tools, including jackhammers, circular saws, and even their bare hands, to carefully remove the debris in an effort to find survivors. According to police, the collapse was caused by the illegal construction of two additional floors on the original two-story building, without the necessary permits.
"The construction couldn't support the load while the concrete was pouring (to build) the third floor," explained Mudji Irmawan, a construction expert. The additional weight and structural changes ultimately led to the catastrophic failure of the building.
This heartbreaking incident has left the local community in Sidoarjo reeling, as they mourn the tragic loss of life and anxiously await news of the missing students. Authorities continue their search and investigation, determined to uncover the full details behind this devastating collapse.
