Tragedy Worsens as Indonesia School Collapse Fatalities Rises to 54
Media Source
The death count 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 missing individuals.
Hundreds students, primarily teenage boys, had gathered for religious services at the Islamic boarding school in Eastern Java when the building collapsed while undergoing construction.
The country's emergency management authority characterizes this as the nation's deadliest disaster this year. Rescue personnel are expected to conclude their search operation for 13 victims trapped under debris by day's end.
Investigation Underway into Collapse Cause
Authorities are continuing to probe the cause behind the structural failure. Certain authorities suggested the two-storey building collapsed due to an inadequate base.
"Among 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 representative from the disaster mitigation agency during a media briefing.
The total count includes at least two individuals who were extracted from the debris but subsequently succumbed in hospital.
Institutional Context and Regulatory Concerns
The institution is a conventional religious educational center in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.
Numerous pesantren function without formal oversight, lacking strong regulation or consistent monitoring. It remains unclear whether the institution had proper authorization to undertake building modifications.
Rescue Challenges
Emergency response efforts have faced difficulties due to the way the building collapsed, leaving only narrow voids for emergency personnel to maneuver within, authorities stated last week.
Eyewitness Reports
Those who escaped have recounted their terrifying survival stories with local media.
One teenage eyewitness described first "hearing the sound of falling rocks", which "intensified and more intense".
The young person immediately ran for the exit, and while he successfully got out, he was wounded by falling debris from the roof.
