Catastrophe Worsens as Indonesian Educational Institution Structural Failure Fatalities Rises to 54
News Agency
The number of fatalities from the collapse of an Indonesian school has escalated to 54, as confirmed by officials, with rescue teams continuing their search for over twelve missing individuals.
Hundreds pupils, primarily teenage boys, had assembled for religious services at the religious educational institution in Eastern Java when the structure gave way while undergoing construction.
Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency characterizes this as the country's most fatal disaster in 2025. Emergency workers are expected to complete their rescue mission for 13 victims ensnared beneath the rubble by evening.
Probe Underway into Collapse Cause
Authorities 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, natural or not, there hasn't been as numerous fatalities as the incident in Sidoarjo," declared a representative from the disaster mitigation agency during a media briefing.
The total count encompasses at least two individuals who were rescued from the rubble but later died in hospital.
School Background and Oversight Issues
The institution is a traditional Islamic boarding school in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.
Numerous pesantren operate informally, lacking strong regulation or consistent monitoring. It remains uncertain whether the institution had necessary permits to undertake building modifications.
Rescue Challenges
Emergency response efforts have proven challenging due to the way the building collapsed, leaving only tight spaces for emergency personnel to maneuver within, officials reported previously.
Eyewitness Reports
Survivors have shared their terrifying escape experiences with local media.
One 13-year-old eyewitness described first "hearing the sound of collapsing materials", which "intensified and more intense".
The young person immediately ran for the doorway, and while he successfully got out, he was wounded by falling debris from the ceiling.
