Tragedy Deepens as Indonesian School Collapse Fatalities Increases to 54

News Agency

The death count from the collapse of an educational facility in Indonesia has climbed to 54, as confirmed by officials, with rescue teams continuing their search for over twelve unaccounted persons.

Numerous pupils, primarily adolescent males, had gathered for prayers at the religious educational institution in East Java when the building collapsed while undergoing construction.

The country's emergency management authority describes this as the nation's most fatal disaster in 2025. Emergency workers are expected to complete their search operation for 13 victims ensnared under debris by evening.

Investigation Ongoing into Structural Failure

Authorities are still examining the reason behind the collapse. Some officials indicated the two-level structure collapsed due to an unstable foundation.

"Out of all the catastrophes in 2025, whether natural or man-made, there hasn't been as numerous fatalities as the incident in Sidoarjo," stated a representative from the disaster mitigation agency during a press conference.

The overall number includes at least two people who were rescued from the debris but subsequently succumbed in hospital.

Institutional Context and Oversight Issues

The institution is a conventional Islamic boarding school in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.

Numerous Islamic schools operate without formal oversight, lacking comprehensive oversight or regular inspections. It remains unclear whether the school had proper authorization to undertake building modifications.

Operational Difficulties

Search and rescue operations have faced difficulties due to the way the building collapsed, creating tight spaces for emergency personnel to operate within, authorities stated previously.

Survivor Accounts

Those who escaped have shared their harrowing escape experiences with regional news outlets.

One 13-year-old eyewitness described first "hearing the noise of falling rocks", which "intensified and more intense".

The adolescent immediately ran for the exit, and while he successfully got out, he was injured by collapsing materials from the roof.