Tragedy Deepens as Indonesia School Structural Failure Death Toll Rises to 54
News Agency
The number of fatalities from the structural failure of an educational facility in Indonesia has escalated to 54, as confirmed by officials, with rescue teams still looking for over twelve missing individuals.
Numerous pupils, mostly teenage boys, had assembled for prayers at the religious educational institution in Eastern Java when the building gave way while undergoing construction.
The country's emergency management authority characterizes this as the country's most fatal catastrophe in 2025. Rescue personnel are expected to conclude their rescue mission for thirteen individuals ensnared beneath the rubble by evening.
Investigation Underway into Structural Failure
Investigators are still examining the cause behind the collapse. Certain authorities indicated the two-level structure 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 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 rescued from the debris but subsequently died in medical care.
Institutional Context and Regulatory Concerns
The institution is a traditional Islamic boarding school in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.
Numerous pesantren operate informally, lacking comprehensive oversight or regular inspections. It remains unclear whether the institution had necessary permits to undertake building modifications.
Rescue Challenges
Search and rescue operations have faced difficulties due to the way the structure collapsed, leaving only tight spaces for rescuers to operate within, officials reported last week.
Survivor Accounts
Survivors have shared their harrowing survival stories with regional news outlets.
One 13-year-old eyewitness recalled first "noticing the sound of falling rocks", which "intensified and louder".
The adolescent immediately ran for the doorway, and while he successfully got out, he was wounded by collapsing materials from the ceiling.
