Indonesia boarding school fires raise safety concerns

A fire at the Darussalam boarding school in Martapura, South Kalimantan on 19 July 2026 destroyed 28 student rooms and three nearby homes. No fatalities were reported, but damage is estimated in the hundreds of millions of rupiah and the cause remains under police investigation.

In a separate incident, a suspected intentional burning of a santri at a boarding school in Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, which occurred in December 2025, continues to be processed through the legal system. The case has drawn attention from the Indonesian Ombudsman and parliament, prompting experts to call for comprehensive child‑protection measures in pesantren, including risk‑assessment protocols, staff training, and open communication channels.