Tragedy Deepens as Indonesia Educational Institution Structural Failure Death Toll Increases 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 rescue teams still looking for over twelve missing individuals.
Hundreds students, mostly teenage boys, had gathered for religious services at the religious educational institution in East Java when the structure gave way while being renovated.
Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency characterizes this as the country's deadliest catastrophe in 2025. Rescue personnel are anticipated to complete their search operation for 13 victims trapped beneath the rubble by evening.
Probe Underway into Structural Failure
Investigators are continuing to probe the reason behind the collapse. Some officials suggested the two-level structure 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 ones 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 rubble but later succumbed in hospital.
School Background and Oversight Issues
The institution is a traditional Islamic boarding school in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.
Many Islamic schools operate informally, lacking strong regulation or consistent monitoring. It remains unclear whether the institution had necessary permits to conduct additional construction.
Operational Difficulties
Search and rescue operations have faced difficulties due to the manner the building fell, leaving only narrow voids for rescuers to maneuver within, authorities stated last week.
Eyewitness Reports
Those who escaped have recounted their harrowing survival stories with local media.
One 13-year-old eyewitness recalled first "hearing the noise of falling rocks", which "intensified and more intense".
The young person immediately ran for the exit, and while he managed to escape, he was injured by collapsing materials from the ceiling.
