Tragedy Deepens as Indonesian Educational Institution Structural Failure Death Toll Rises to 54

Media Source

The death count from the collapse of an Indonesian school has climbed to 54, as confirmed by officials, with emergency responders continuing their search for more than a dozen unaccounted persons.

Hundreds students, primarily teenage boys, had assembled for prayers at the religious educational institution in Eastern Java when the structure collapsed while being renovated.

The country's emergency management authority characterizes this as the country's most fatal disaster in 2025. Emergency workers are expected to conclude their rescue mission for 13 victims trapped under debris by day's end.

Investigation Ongoing into Structural Failure

Authorities are still examining the cause behind the collapse. Some officials indicated the two-storey building caved in due to an inadequate base.

"Out of all the disasters in 2025, whether natural or man-made, there hasn't been as many dead victims as the incident in Sidoarjo," stated a representative from the emergency management authority during a press conference.

The total count encompasses at least two individuals who were rescued from the rubble but subsequently died in medical care.

School Background and Regulatory Concerns

The facility is a conventional religious educational center in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.

Many pesantren operate without formal oversight, lacking comprehensive oversight or consistent monitoring. It remains unclear whether the school had necessary permits to undertake building modifications.

Rescue Challenges

Search and rescue operations have faced difficulties due to the manner the building collapsed, creating narrow voids for emergency personnel to maneuver within, officials reported previously.

Survivor Accounts

Survivors have recounted their terrifying survival stories with local media.

One 13-year-old survivor recalled first "noticing the sound of falling rocks", which "grew louder and more intense".

The adolescent quickly rushed for the exit, and while he managed to escape, he was wounded by collapsing materials from the roof.