Catastrophe Worsens as Indonesia School Collapse Fatalities Increases to 54
Media Source
The death count from the structural failure of an Indonesian school has climbed to 54, as confirmed by officials, with rescue teams still looking for more than a dozen missing individuals.
Numerous pupils, mostly teenage boys, had assembled for religious services at the Islamic boarding school in East Java when the structure collapsed while being renovated.
The country's emergency management authority describes this as the country's most fatal disaster this year. Emergency workers are anticipated to complete their rescue mission for 13 victims trapped under debris by day's end.
Investigation Underway into Collapse Cause
Investigators are continuing to probe the reason behind the collapse. Some officials suggested the two-level structure collapsed due to an inadequate base.
"Among all the disasters in 2025, natural or not, there hasn't been as numerous fatalities as the incident in Sidoarjo," declared a deputy from the emergency management authority during a media briefing.
The total count encompasses at least two individuals who were extracted from the debris but later succumbed in hospital.
Institutional Context and Oversight Issues
The institution is a traditional religious educational center in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.
Many Islamic schools operate without formal oversight, without comprehensive oversight or consistent monitoring. It remains unclear whether the institution had proper authorization to undertake building modifications.
Operational Difficulties
Emergency response efforts have proven challenging due to the way the building fell, leaving only tight spaces for rescuers to maneuver within, officials stated previously.
Eyewitness Reports
Those who escaped have recounted their harrowing survival stories with regional news outlets.
One teenage eyewitness recalled first "hearing the sound 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.
