We mourn the loss of at least 61 lives, nearly all of them students, and express our deepest condolences to the grieving families. We also thank the search and rescue teams for their tireless efforts in recovering 104 survivors from the rubble over nine long days.

But our grief must not end in silence. What happened on Sept. 29 at the Al Khoziny pesantren is, to put it plainly, inexcusable, although Islam promotes mercy and forgiveness.

The building collapsed during afternoon prayers, when some 171 students had gathered on the ground floor. It was later revealed that work had been ongoing on the second floor, raising alarms that proper precautions had been ignored entirely.

It is common sense that construction work and occupancy cannot occur in the same space at the same time. In many countries, this would be a punishable offense. In this country, it appears to be a matter of routine.

We now know that the boarding school lacked the necessary building permits and that the project was carried out without clear oversight. According to the Public Works and Housing Ministry, only 50 of 42,433 pesantren buildings constructed nationwide have a formal building permit. The figure is staggering and demands urgent action.

A building meant to house and educate children should never be allowed to operate in the absence of fundamental safety regulatory compliance.