Catastrophe Worsens as Indonesia School Collapse Fatalities Increases to 54
Media Source
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 missing individuals.
Hundreds students, mostly teenage boys, had assembled for prayers at the religious educational institution in East Java when the building collapsed while being renovated.
Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency describes this as the nation's deadliest catastrophe in 2025. Rescue personnel are expected to complete their rescue mission for 13 victims ensnared under debris by day's end.
Probe Ongoing into Collapse Cause
Authorities are still examining the reason behind the collapse. Certain authorities suggested the two-storey building collapsed due to an inadequate base.
"Among all the disasters in 2025, whether natural or man-made, there hasn't been as numerous fatalities as the ones in Sidoarjo," stated a deputy from the disaster mitigation agency during a media briefing.
The total count includes at least two individuals who were extracted from the rubble but subsequently succumbed in hospital.
School Background and Regulatory Concerns
The institution is a traditional religious educational center in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.
Many Islamic schools function without formal oversight, without strong regulation or consistent monitoring. It remains unclear whether the institution had necessary permits to undertake additional construction.
Operational Difficulties
Emergency response efforts have proven challenging due to the way the building fell, leaving only narrow voids for emergency personnel to operate within, officials reported previously.
Eyewitness Reports
Survivors have shared their terrifying escape experiences with local media.
One teenage survivor recalled first "hearing the sound of falling rocks", which "grew louder and louder".
The adolescent quickly rushed for the doorway, and while he managed to escape, he was injured by falling debris from the roof.
