Tragedy Deepens as Indonesian Educational Institution Collapse Fatalities Rises to 54
News Agency
The number of fatalities from the structural failure of an Indonesian school has climbed to 54, as confirmed by officials, with rescue teams continuing their search for over twelve unaccounted persons.
Numerous students, primarily adolescent males, had gathered for prayers at the religious educational institution in Eastern Java when the building collapsed while being renovated.
The country's emergency management authority describes this as the nation's most fatal disaster in 2025. Emergency workers are anticipated to complete their search operation for thirteen individuals trapped beneath the rubble by day's end.
Investigation Ongoing into Structural Failure
Authorities are continuing to probe the cause behind the collapse. Some officials indicated the two-level structure caved in due to an unstable foundation.
"Out of all the catastrophes in 2025, natural or not, there has not occurred as many dead victims as the ones in Sidoarjo," declared a representative from the disaster mitigation agency during a media briefing.
The overall number encompasses at least two people who were extracted from the rubble but later succumbed in hospital.
School Background and Oversight Issues
The facility is a conventional religious educational center in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.
Many Islamic schools function without formal oversight, without comprehensive oversight or regular inspections. It remains uncertain whether the institution had proper authorization to conduct additional construction.
Operational Difficulties
Search and rescue operations have proven challenging due to the way the structure collapsed, leaving only narrow voids for rescuers to operate within, officials stated last week.
Eyewitness Reports
Those who escaped have recounted their harrowing escape experiences with local media.
One 13-year-old survivor recalled first "hearing the sound of collapsing materials", which "intensified and more intense".
The young person quickly rushed for the doorway, and while he managed to escape, he was injured by collapsing materials from the roof.
