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Indonesia's rescue teams recovered many more remains over the past few days, increasing the official fatality count to 49 after a worship space at an Islamic boarding school collapsed last week.

Intensive Search and Rescue Underway

Utilizing heavy excavators outfitted with demolition tools, circular saws and at times their bare hands, emergency personnel removed large quantities of rubble in a urgent effort to find the 14 scholars reportedly still lost. Search teams uncovered 35 victims over the past few days alone, according to the government disaster agency.

Sequence of the Devastating Collapse

The construction crashed down on top of hundreds of pupils – mainly male students between the ages of 12 to 19 – on 29 September at the 100-year-old boarding school in East Java. Of those rescued, 97 were cared for for multiple injuries and sent home. Six others sustained serious injuries and were still under medical care on Sunday.

Cause of Structural Failure Identified

Authorities claim that additional floors were being added to the original facility lacking a permit, causing catastrophic failure. This has sparked broad outrage over illegal construction in Indonesia.

“The structural work was unable to bear the weight while the cement was pouring [to build] the additional level because it violated construction codes and the whole 800-square-metres structure collapsed,” said a building specialist from Tenth November Institute of Technology.

The professional also said that scholars must not have been given access inside a building being built.

Government Statement

The local district head confirmed the institution's administration had not applied for the necessary permit before commencing the project.

“Various buildings, including traditional boarding school extensions, in countryside locations were erected lacking a official authorization,” the administrator said.

Judicial Consequences

The nation's building safety laws state that licenses have to be issued by the competent officials prior to any building work, or else proprietors face monetary sanctions and imprisonment. If a breach leads to death, this can lead to up to 15 years in incarceration and a penalty of up to 8bn Indonesian currency (nearly $500,000).

Apology from Facility Administration

The institution's manager, a well-known religious leader in the region, offered a formal apology in a infrequent public statement a day after the incident.

“This is truly a test from God so we must all be patient, and may God compensate with something better, with a result more beneficial,” he said. “We must be confident that God will bless those impacted by this incident with great compensation.”

Current Inquiry

Legal investigations related to Islamic scholars are still contentious in the biggest predominantly Muslim country.

There has been no comment from school officials since the incident.

“We will investigate this matter comprehensively,” East Java's senior police official said on Sunday.

“Our probe also demands guidance from a team of structural engineers to establish whether carelessness by the school led to the deaths.”