With the help of jackhammers, circular saws, and at times their bare hands, rescuers worked to clear debris in hopes of locating the 23 students still unaccounted for.

Rescuers found 26 bodies over the weekend alone, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency said.

According to Indonesia’s 2002 Building Construction code, permits must be obtained from relevant authorities before any building can commence, or the owners might face fines and prison time.

If a violation causes death, this can lead to up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to 8 billion rupiah (around $732,000).

The caretaker of the school, Abdus Salam Mujib, a respected Islamic leader in East Java, made a rare public apology a day after the disaster.

“This event is indeed God’s will, and we must remain patient. May God replace this loss with something greater and provide immense rewards to those affected,” he expressed.

Criminal investigations involving Muslim clerics remain sensitive in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation.

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

“We will investigate this case thoroughly,” East Java Police Chief Nanang Avianto said.

“Our investigation also requires guidance from a team of construction experts to determine whether negligence by the school led to the deaths.”