Tragedy Worsens as Indonesian School Structural Failure Death Toll Rises to 54
News Agency
The number of fatalities from the structural failure of an Indonesian school has escalated to 54, as confirmed by officials, with emergency responders continuing their search for more than a dozen missing individuals.
Numerous students, primarily adolescent males, had assembled for prayers at the Islamic boarding school in Eastern Java when the building gave way while being renovated.
The country's emergency management authority characterizes this as the nation's most fatal disaster in 2025. Rescue personnel are anticipated to conclude their search operation for thirteen individuals ensnared beneath the rubble by evening.
Investigation Ongoing into Collapse Cause
Authorities are continuing to probe the cause behind the structural failure. Certain authorities indicated the two-storey building collapsed due to an unstable foundation.
"Among all the catastrophes in 2025, whether natural or man-made, there hasn't been as numerous fatalities as the ones in Sidoarjo," stated a deputy from the emergency management authority during a media briefing.
The overall number encompasses at least two people who were rescued from the rubble but subsequently succumbed in medical care.
Institutional Context and Oversight Issues
The facility is a traditional religious educational center in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.
Many Islamic schools function without formal oversight, lacking comprehensive oversight or consistent monitoring. It remains unclear whether the school had proper authorization to undertake building modifications.
Rescue Challenges
Search and rescue operations have faced difficulties due to the manner the structure fell, leaving only tight spaces for emergency personnel to operate within, authorities reported last week.
Survivor Accounts
Survivors have shared their terrifying survival stories with regional news outlets.
One teenage eyewitness described first "noticing the sound of falling rocks", which "intensified and louder".
The young person quickly rushed for the doorway, and while he managed to escape, he was injured by falling debris from the ceiling.
