Tragedy Worsens as Indonesian Educational Institution Structural Failure Death Toll Rises to 54
News Agency
The death count from the collapse of an Indonesian school has escalated to 54, according to authorities, with rescue teams continuing their search for more than a dozen missing individuals.
Hundreds pupils, mostly adolescent males, had assembled for prayers at the Islamic boarding school in Eastern Java when the structure collapsed while being renovated.
The country's emergency management authority characterizes this as the country's most fatal disaster in 2025. Rescue personnel are expected to conclude their rescue mission for thirteen individuals ensnared beneath the rubble by evening.
Investigation Underway into Structural Failure
Authorities are continuing to probe the cause behind the structural failure. Certain authorities suggested the two-storey building caved in due to an inadequate base.
"Out of all the disasters in 2025, whether natural or man-made, there hasn't been as many dead victims as the incident in Sidoarjo," stated a representative from the emergency management authority during a press conference.
The total count includes at least two individuals who were rescued from the debris but later succumbed in medical care.
Institutional Context and Regulatory Concerns
The institution is a conventional religious educational center in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.
Many Islamic schools function without formal oversight, without strong regulation or consistent monitoring. It remains uncertain whether the school had proper authorization to conduct additional construction.
Operational Difficulties
Emergency response efforts have faced difficulties due to the manner the building fell, creating narrow voids for emergency personnel to maneuver within, officials stated last week.
Eyewitness Reports
Those who escaped have shared their harrowing escape experiences with local media.
One 13-year-old survivor described first "noticing the noise of collapsing materials", which "grew louder and more intense".
The young person quickly rushed for the exit, and while he successfully got out, he was wounded by falling debris from the ceiling.
