Tragedy Worsens as Indonesia Educational Institution Structural Failure Death Toll Rises to 54
News Agency
The number of fatalities from the collapse of an Indonesian school has climbed to 54, according to authorities, with rescue teams continuing their search for over twelve missing individuals.
Hundreds students, mostly teenage boys, had gathered for religious services at the Islamic boarding school in East Java when the structure gave way while being renovated.
Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency describes this as the country's deadliest catastrophe this year. Rescue personnel are expected to complete their rescue mission for 13 victims ensnared under debris by evening.
Investigation Ongoing into Collapse Cause
Authorities are continuing to probe the reason behind the collapse. Certain authorities indicated the two-level structure caved in due to an unstable foundation.
"Out of all the disasters in 2025, natural or not, there has not occurred as many dead victims as the ones in Sidoarjo," stated a representative from the disaster mitigation agency during a press conference.
The total count encompasses at least two individuals who were extracted from the rubble but subsequently succumbed in medical care.
School Background and Oversight Issues
The institution is a traditional religious educational center in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.
Many pesantren function without formal oversight, without comprehensive oversight or regular inspections. It remains uncertain whether the school had proper authorization to undertake building modifications.
Rescue Challenges
Emergency response efforts have proven challenging due to the way the building fell, leaving only tight spaces for emergency personnel to operate within, officials reported last week.
Survivor Accounts
Survivors have recounted their harrowing escape experiences with regional news outlets.
One 13-year-old survivor recalled first "hearing the noise of collapsing materials", which "grew louder and more intense".
The adolescent quickly rushed for the exit, and while he successfully got out, he was wounded by collapsing materials from the roof.
