Tragedy Deepens as Indonesian School Collapse Death Toll Rises to 54
News Agency
The number of fatalities from the collapse of an educational facility in Indonesia has escalated to 54, as confirmed by officials, with emergency responders still looking for more than a dozen unaccounted persons.
Numerous students, primarily adolescent males, had gathered for prayers at the Islamic boarding school in East Java when the structure gave way while being renovated.
Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency characterizes this as the country's most fatal disaster in 2025. Rescue personnel are anticipated to complete their search operation for 13 victims trapped under debris by day's end.
Probe Ongoing into Structural Failure
Authorities are continuing to probe the reason behind the structural failure. Some officials indicated the two-storey building collapsed due to an inadequate base.
"Out of all the catastrophes in 2025, whether natural or man-made, there has not occurred as numerous fatalities as the ones in Sidoarjo," stated a representative from the emergency management authority during a press conference.
The overall number encompasses at least two individuals who were extracted from the rubble but later succumbed in medical care.
Institutional Context and Oversight Issues
The facility is a traditional religious educational center in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.
Numerous pesantren function without formal oversight, without comprehensive oversight or consistent monitoring. It remains uncertain whether the institution had proper authorization to undertake building modifications.
Rescue Challenges
Search and rescue operations have proven challenging due to the way the building collapsed, leaving only narrow voids for emergency personnel to operate within, officials reported previously.
Eyewitness Reports
Survivors have shared their terrifying escape experiences with local media.
One 13-year-old eyewitness recalled first "noticing the noise of falling rocks", which "grew louder and more intense".
The adolescent quickly rushed for the exit, and while he successfully got out, he was injured by collapsing materials from the ceiling.
