Tragedy Deepens as Indonesia Educational Institution Structural Failure Fatalities Rises to 54
News Agency
The number of fatalities from the structural failure of an Indonesian school has climbed to 54, according to authorities, with emergency responders still looking for over twelve unaccounted persons.
Hundreds pupils, mostly adolescent males, had assembled for prayers at the Islamic boarding school in Eastern Java when the structure collapsed while undergoing construction.
Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency describes this as the nation's deadliest disaster in 2025. Emergency workers are expected to complete their search operation for thirteen individuals trapped under debris by evening.
Probe Underway into Collapse Cause
Investigators are continuing to probe the cause behind the structural failure. Some officials indicated the two-level structure caved in due to an inadequate base.
"Out of all the disasters in 2025, natural or not, there has not occurred as many dead victims as the incident in Sidoarjo," stated a deputy from the disaster mitigation agency during a press conference.
The total count includes at least two people who were extracted from the rubble but subsequently died in hospital.
Institutional Context and Oversight Issues
The institution is a traditional religious educational center in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.
Many Islamic schools operate without formal oversight, without strong regulation or consistent monitoring. It remains unclear whether the institution had necessary permits to conduct building modifications.
Operational Difficulties
Emergency response efforts have proven challenging due to the way the structure collapsed, creating narrow voids for emergency personnel to operate within, authorities stated previously.
Survivor Accounts
Survivors have recounted their terrifying survival stories with local media.
One teenage survivor described first "hearing the noise of falling rocks", which "grew louder and more intense".
The adolescent quickly rushed for the doorway, and while he successfully got out, he was wounded by falling debris from the ceiling.
