What's happened
A building collapse at the Al Khoziny Islamic school in East Java has resulted in at least 65 deaths and dozens of injuries. The incident occurred during an unauthorized expansion, with rescue efforts ongoing amid aftershocks and difficult conditions. Authorities are investigating the cause.
What's behind the headline?
The series of articles reveal a tragic pattern of illegal construction and regulatory neglect in Indonesia, especially in rural areas. The collapse was caused by unauthorized building work that exceeded the structural capacity of the foundation. Rescue efforts have been hampered by unstable debris and aftershocks, with the death toll expected to rise. The incident underscores the dangers of unpermitted construction and the need for stricter enforcement of building codes. The involvement of religious figures and the sensitivity around investigations into clerics suggest potential political and social implications, as authorities seek accountability while managing community trust. The disaster will likely prompt increased scrutiny of building permits and safety standards across Indonesia, especially in non-urban areas where regulation is lax.
What the papers say
The articles from The Guardian, Al Jazeera, and The Independent provide a comprehensive timeline and detail the causes, rescue efforts, and political sensitivities surrounding the collapse. The Guardian emphasizes the ongoing rescue operations and the structural failure due to unauthorized expansion. Al Jazeera highlights the revised death toll of 65 and the ongoing investigation into construction negligence, noting the widespread issue of unpermitted buildings in Indonesia. The Independent offers detailed accounts of rescue efforts, the conditions under which the collapse occurred, and the legal context of building permits, illustrating the systemic issues with construction regulation and the potential for future tragedies if enforcement does not improve. All sources agree on the key facts but differ slightly in focus, with The Guardian and Al Jazeera emphasizing the scale and cause, and The Independent providing detailed rescue and legal context.
How we got here
The collapse stems from illegal construction work on the school, which was undergoing unauthorized expansion. The building's foundations could not support the added floors, leading to structural failure. The school is one of approximately 42,000 pesantren in Indonesia, most built without permits, highlighting widespread issues with building regulation enforcement.
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