
Tragic news emerged from an Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo, East Java, where the prayer hall of Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School collapsed on Monday (Sep. 19) afternoon at around 3:00 p.m. local time. The disaster claimed at least 67 lives, while 104 others survived. Search and rescue (SAR) teams and the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) continue evacuation efforts for those trapped under the rubble.
Dr. Ashar Saputra, a lecturer in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), emphasized that the collapse of the prayer hall serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of adhering to technical building regulations, especially for public facilities.
From a civil engineering perspective, Dr. Saputra explained, public buildings are required to meet performance standards set out in existing regulations.
“To ensure these standards are achieved, several stages must be fulfilled, including obtaining a Building Approval (PBG),” said Dr. Saputra on Tuesday (Oct. 7).
He further explained that Government Regulation (PP) No. 16 of 2021 on Buildings outlines a series of evaluation stages (from planning and construction to building functionality).
Skipping these stages means that no proper inspection of the structure or strength of the building takes place, which may result in facilities that fall far below safety standards.
“Unfortunately, many educational institutions and Islamic boarding schools construct buildings without going through these proper procedures,” he noted.
Based on his observations, Dr. Saputra suspected that the collapsed prayer hall was still under construction but had already been used for other activities. He cautioned that such a condition poses a high risk since the building structure is not yet stable.
He also suspected that the concrete casting process had not been completed, meaning the building still required structural support.
Another factor that could have worsened the situation, according to Dr. Saputra, was the addition of extra floors without recalculating the structural capacity. A building initially designed as a single-story structure, he explained, cannot safely bear additional loads without modification.
“A building designed for only one floor but later extended clearly exceeds its structural capacity,” he said.
Regarding material selection, Dr. Saputra explained that both concrete and steel structures are acceptable as long as they meet technical performance standards. However, he acknowledged that steel offers an advantage in quality consistency, as it is industrially produced and standardized.
“Both materials are suitable, provided the planning is accurate and the supervision is properly conducted,” he stated.
Dr. Saputra also emphasized the importance of a joint effort to develop a roadmap for evaluating the safety of school and Islamic boarding school buildings. Although such efforts will take time, he suggested collaboration among the Ministry of Religious Affairs, relevant technical ministries, and the Ministry of Education.
“This could also involve community organizations that oversee Islamic boarding schools,” he added.
As a closing remark, Dr. Saputra highlighted the significant role of Islamic boarding schools in advancing education in Indonesia, underscoring that the safety of students must be a top priority.
Given that these institutions often accommodate large numbers of people, the risk level is high. He emphasized that such incidents, especially those related to safety, should not be viewed as inevitable but rather as preventable events through proper planning and supervision.
Author: Hanifah
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photograph: Republika