Catastrophe Worsens as Indonesian Educational Institution Structural Failure Death Toll Increases to 54
News Agency
The death count from the collapse of an educational facility in Indonesia has escalated to 54, according to authorities, with rescue teams continuing their search for more than a dozen unaccounted persons.
Hundreds pupils, primarily adolescent males, had gathered for religious services at the religious educational institution in East Java when the building gave way while undergoing construction.
The country's emergency management authority describes this as the nation's most fatal disaster this year. Rescue personnel are expected to complete their rescue mission for 13 victims trapped beneath the rubble by evening.
Investigation Underway into Collapse Cause
Authorities are still examining the reason behind the structural failure. Some officials suggested the two-storey building collapsed due to an unstable foundation.
"Among all the catastrophes in 2025, natural or not, there hasn't been as many dead victims as the incident in Sidoarjo," stated a deputy from the disaster mitigation agency during a press conference.
The overall number includes at least two individuals who were rescued from the rubble but subsequently died in hospital.
Institutional Context and Regulatory Concerns
The facility is a traditional Islamic boarding school in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.
Numerous pesantren function without formal oversight, without comprehensive oversight or consistent monitoring. It remains uncertain whether the school had proper authorization to undertake building modifications.
Rescue Challenges
Search and rescue operations have proven challenging due to the way the structure fell, creating tight spaces for emergency personnel to maneuver within, officials stated last week.
Eyewitness Reports
Those who escaped have recounted their terrifying survival stories with regional news outlets.
One 13-year-old eyewitness described first "hearing the sound of falling rocks", which "grew louder and more intense".
The adolescent quickly rushed for the exit, and while he managed to escape, he was wounded by falling debris from the roof.
