Sun Oct 05 03:36:19 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the provided text followed by a news article rewrite:
**Summary:**
A prayer hall collapsed at the Al-Khoziny Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo, Indonesia on September 30, 2025, trapping hundreds of students. As of October 5, 2025, rescuers have recovered 37 bodies and are still searching for 26 missing students. Authorities believe the collapse was caused by the unpermitted addition of two stories to the building which led to structural failure during construction. The school’s caretaker has apologized, and police are investigating the incident, including possible negligence. The incident has sparked outrage over illegal construction practices in Indonesia.
**News Article:**
**Indonesia School Collapse Death Toll Climbs; Illegal Construction Blamed**
**JAKARTA, October 5, 2025** – Rescue efforts continue in Sidoarjo, East Java, Indonesia, following the collapse of a prayer hall at the Al-Khoziny Islamic boarding school nearly a week ago. As of Sunday, the death toll has risen to 37, with 26 students still missing and presumed trapped in the rubble.
The structure, which housed hundreds of students aged 12-19, collapsed on September 30th while students were praying. Authorities report that 95 students were treated for injuries and released, while eight remain hospitalized with serious wounds.
Police investigations have revealed that the two-story building had been illegally expanded with two additional levels without the required permits. This has been identified as the primary cause of the structural failure. According to construction expert Mudji Irmawan, the building “couldn’t support the load” of the new construction due to substandard practices.
The incident has triggered widespread anger in Indonesia, highlighting the issue of illegal construction practices, particularly in non-urban areas where traditional boarding schools are often built or expanded without proper permits.
“Many buildings, including traditional boarding school extensions, in non-urban areas were built without a permit,” said Sidoarjo district chief, Subandi.
Under Indonesia’s 2002 Building Construction code, building without proper permits can result in fines and imprisonment. If a violation causes death, the penalties can be as high as 15 years in prison and a fine of nearly USD500,000.
Abdus Salam Mujib, the school’s caretaker, has publicly apologized for the incident. East Java Police Chief Nanang Avianto stated that a thorough investigation is underway, including consultation with construction experts to determine if negligence by the school contributed to the tragedy.
The incident is a sensitive matter in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, due to the involvement of a respected Islamic cleric.