Tragedy Deepens as Indonesian Educational Institution Structural Failure Death Toll Increases to 54
Media Source
The death count from the collapse of an Indonesian school has escalated to 54, as confirmed by officials, with emergency responders still looking for over twelve unaccounted persons.
Hundreds students, mostly teenage boys, had assembled for religious services at the Islamic boarding school in East Java when the building collapsed while being renovated.
Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency describes this as the nation's most fatal catastrophe this year. Rescue personnel are anticipated to conclude their rescue mission for 13 victims ensnared beneath the rubble by evening.
Probe Ongoing into Collapse Cause
Investigators are still examining the cause behind the collapse. Certain authorities indicated the two-storey building collapsed due to an inadequate base.
"Out of all the catastrophes in 2025, whether natural or man-made, there hasn't been as many dead victims as the ones in Sidoarjo," stated a deputy from the emergency management authority during a media briefing.
The overall number includes at least two individuals who were rescued from the debris but later died in medical care.
School Background and Regulatory Concerns
The institution is a traditional religious educational center in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.
Numerous Islamic schools function informally, lacking strong regulation or consistent monitoring. It remains uncertain whether the school had proper authorization to conduct additional construction.
Rescue Challenges
Search and rescue operations have proven challenging due to the way the structure collapsed, leaving only tight spaces for rescuers to operate within, authorities stated last week.
Eyewitness Reports
Those who escaped have recounted their terrifying escape experiences with regional news outlets.
One 13-year-old eyewitness described first "noticing the sound of collapsing materials", which "intensified and more intense".
The adolescent immediately ran for the doorway, and while he managed to escape, he was injured by falling debris from the ceiling.
