Tragedy Worsens as Indonesia Educational Institution Collapse Fatalities Rises to 54
News Agency
The death count from the collapse of an Indonesian school has escalated to 54, as confirmed by officials, with rescue teams continuing their search for over twelve unaccounted persons.
Numerous students, mostly teenage boys, had assembled for prayers at the religious educational institution in East Java when the building collapsed while undergoing construction.
Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency describes this as the country's deadliest catastrophe this year. Emergency workers are anticipated to complete their search operation for 13 victims trapped beneath the rubble by evening.
Investigation Underway into Structural Failure
Investigators are still examining the reason behind the structural failure. Some officials suggested the two-storey building caved in due to an inadequate base.
"Among all the disasters in 2025, whether natural or man-made, there has not occurred as numerous fatalities as the ones in Sidoarjo," stated a representative from the disaster mitigation agency during a media briefing.
The overall number includes at least two individuals who were rescued from the rubble but subsequently died in hospital.
Institutional Context and Oversight Issues
The facility is a conventional Islamic boarding school in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.
Many pesantren function informally, lacking strong regulation or regular inspections. It remains uncertain whether the school had proper authorization to undertake building modifications.
Operational Difficulties
Search and rescue operations have faced difficulties due to the way the structure fell, leaving only tight spaces for emergency personnel to maneuver within, officials reported previously.
Eyewitness Reports
Those who escaped have recounted their terrifying escape experiences with regional news outlets.
One 13-year-old eyewitness described first "hearing the noise of falling rocks", which "intensified and more intense".
The adolescent immediately ran for the exit, and while he successfully got out, he was wounded by collapsing materials from the roof.
