Tragedy Worsens as Indonesian Educational Institution Collapse Death Toll Rises to 54
Media Source
The number of fatalities from the collapse of an Indonesian school has escalated to 54, according to authorities, with rescue teams continuing their search for more than a dozen missing individuals.
Hundreds pupils, primarily adolescent males, had assembled for prayers at the Islamic boarding school in Eastern Java when the structure gave way while undergoing construction.
Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency describes this as the nation's most fatal disaster in 2025. Rescue personnel are expected to conclude their search operation for 13 victims ensnared beneath the rubble by evening.
Investigation Ongoing into Collapse Cause
Authorities are still examining the cause behind the collapse. Some officials suggested the two-storey building caved in due to an inadequate base.
"Among all the catastrophes in 2025, natural or not, there hasn't been as many dead victims as the ones in Sidoarjo," stated a deputy from the disaster mitigation agency during a media briefing.
The total count includes at least two people who were extracted from the rubble but subsequently succumbed in medical care.
School Background and Regulatory Concerns
The facility is a traditional Islamic boarding school in Indonesia, referred to 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
Search and rescue operations have proven challenging due to the manner the building collapsed, creating tight spaces for rescuers to maneuver within, officials reported previously.
Eyewitness Reports
Survivors have recounted their harrowing escape experiences with local media.
One 13-year-old eyewitness recalled first "noticing the noise of falling rocks", which "grew louder and louder".
The adolescent immediately ran for the doorway, and while he successfully got out, he was injured by collapsing materials from the ceiling.
