Tragedy Deepens as Indonesia Educational Institution Collapse Death Toll Rises to 54
Media Source
The death count from the collapse of an educational facility in Indonesia has escalated to 54, as confirmed by officials, with rescue teams continuing their search for over twelve missing individuals.
Hundreds students, mostly 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 characterizes this as the nation's deadliest catastrophe in 2025. Emergency workers are expected to complete their rescue mission for 13 victims ensnared under debris by day's end.
Investigation Ongoing into Structural Failure
Investigators are continuing to probe the cause behind the collapse. Some officials indicated the two-level structure collapsed due to an unstable foundation.
"Out of all the disasters in 2025, whether natural or man-made, there has not occurred as numerous fatalities as the incident in Sidoarjo," declared a deputy from the emergency management authority during a media briefing.
The total count includes at least two people who were rescued from the rubble but later succumbed in medical care.
School Background and Regulatory Concerns
The institution is a conventional religious educational center in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.
Numerous Islamic schools operate without formal oversight, without strong regulation or regular inspections. It remains uncertain whether the school had necessary permits to conduct building modifications.
Operational Difficulties
Search and rescue operations have proven challenging due to the manner the structure collapsed, leaving only tight spaces for rescuers to maneuver within, authorities reported last week.
Survivor Accounts
Survivors have recounted their terrifying survival stories with regional news outlets.
One teenage eyewitness described first "hearing the sound of falling rocks", which "grew louder and more intense".
The young person immediately ran for the doorway, and while he managed to escape, he was wounded by falling debris from the roof.
