Catastrophe Deepens as Indonesian School Structural Failure Death Toll Increases to 54
Media Source
The number of fatalities from the structural failure of an Indonesian school has escalated to 54, as confirmed by officials, with rescue teams still looking for more than a dozen unaccounted persons.
Numerous students, primarily teenage boys, had gathered for prayers at the religious educational institution in East Java when the building collapsed while undergoing construction.
The country's emergency management authority characterizes this as the country's most fatal catastrophe this year. Emergency workers are expected to conclude their rescue mission for 13 victims ensnared under debris by evening.
Investigation Underway 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 disasters 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 disaster mitigation agency during a media briefing.
The total count encompasses at least two individuals who were rescued from the rubble but subsequently died in medical care.
School Background and Oversight Issues
The facility is a traditional Islamic boarding school in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.
Many pesantren function informally, lacking strong regulation or consistent monitoring. It remains uncertain whether the school had necessary permits to conduct additional construction.
Operational Difficulties
Emergency response efforts have faced difficulties due to the manner the building fell, creating narrow voids for emergency personnel to operate within, authorities reported last week.
Eyewitness Reports
Survivors have recounted their harrowing escape experiences with regional news outlets.
One 13-year-old eyewitness recalled first "hearing the noise of collapsing materials", which "grew louder and louder".
The adolescent quickly rushed for the doorway, and while he successfully got out, he was wounded by falling debris from the roof.
