Tragedy Deepens as Indonesian School Structural Failure Death Toll Rises to 54
News Agency
The number of fatalities from the collapse of an educational facility in Indonesia has climbed to 54, as confirmed by officials, with emergency responders continuing their search for more than a dozen unaccounted persons.
Numerous pupils, mostly teenage boys, had gathered for religious services at the religious educational institution in East Java when the building gave way while undergoing construction.
The country's emergency management authority describes this as the country's deadliest catastrophe this year. Emergency workers are expected to conclude their rescue mission for thirteen individuals trapped under debris by day's end.
Probe Underway into Collapse Cause
Authorities are continuing to probe the reason behind the collapse. Some officials suggested the two-storey building collapsed due to an unstable foundation.
"Out of all the disasters in 2025, natural or not, there hasn't been as many dead victims as the ones in Sidoarjo," stated a deputy from the emergency management authority during a media briefing.
The total count includes at least two people who were rescued from the rubble but later succumbed in medical care.
Institutional Context and Regulatory Concerns
The institution is a conventional Islamic boarding school in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.
Many Islamic schools operate informally, lacking comprehensive oversight or regular inspections. It remains uncertain whether the school had necessary permits to undertake additional construction.
Rescue Challenges
Emergency response efforts have faced difficulties due to the manner the building collapsed, leaving only tight spaces for rescuers to operate within, authorities stated last week.
Survivor Accounts
Survivors have recounted their terrifying escape experiences with local media.
One 13-year-old eyewitness recalled first "noticing the sound of collapsing materials", which "intensified and more intense".
The adolescent quickly rushed for the doorway, and while he managed to escape, he was injured by collapsing materials from the ceiling.
