Tragedy Deepens as Indonesia Educational Institution Structural Failure Fatalities Rises to 54
News Agency
The death count from the collapse of an Indonesian school has climbed to 54, as confirmed by officials, with emergency responders still looking for more than a dozen unaccounted persons.
Numerous students, primarily teenage boys, had gathered for religious services at the religious educational institution in Eastern Java when the structure gave way while being renovated.
The country's emergency management authority characterizes this as the nation's most fatal catastrophe this year. Emergency workers are anticipated to complete their rescue mission for thirteen individuals ensnared beneath the rubble by evening.
Investigation Underway into Collapse Cause
Investigators are still examining the reason behind the structural failure. Certain authorities indicated the two-storey building caved in due to an inadequate base.
"Out of all the catastrophes in 2025, whether natural or man-made, there has not occurred as many dead victims as the incident in Sidoarjo," stated a deputy from the disaster mitigation agency during a media briefing.
The overall number includes at least two individuals who were extracted from the rubble but later succumbed in medical care.
Institutional Context and Regulatory Concerns
The facility is a traditional Islamic boarding school in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.
Numerous pesantren operate informally, lacking strong regulation or regular inspections. It remains unclear whether the institution had proper authorization to undertake additional construction.
Operational Difficulties
Emergency response efforts have faced difficulties due to the way the structure collapsed, creating tight spaces for emergency personnel to operate within, officials reported previously.
Survivor Accounts
Survivors have shared their harrowing escape experiences with regional news outlets.
One 13-year-old survivor recalled first "hearing the sound of collapsing materials", which "grew louder and louder".
The young person quickly rushed for the exit, and while he successfully got out, he was wounded by collapsing materials from the roof.
