Catastrophe Deepens as Indonesia School Collapse Death Toll Increases to 54
News Agency
The number of fatalities from the collapse of an Indonesian school has escalated to 54, according to authorities, with rescue teams still looking for more than a dozen unaccounted persons.
Hundreds students, primarily adolescent males, had gathered for prayers at the Islamic boarding school in Eastern Java when the structure gave way while being renovated.
Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency 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 Underway into Structural Failure
Authorities are continuing to probe the reason behind the structural failure. Some officials indicated the two-storey building caved in due to an inadequate base.
"Out of all the catastrophes in 2025, natural or not, there has not occurred as numerous fatalities as the incident in Sidoarjo," declared a deputy from the emergency management authority during a media briefing.
The overall number includes at least two individuals who were rescued from the rubble but subsequently succumbed in hospital.
School Background and Regulatory Concerns
The facility is a traditional religious educational center in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.
Many Islamic schools function without formal oversight, without comprehensive oversight or regular inspections. It remains unclear whether the institution had necessary permits to undertake building modifications.
Operational Difficulties
Search and rescue operations have faced difficulties due to the manner the building collapsed, leaving only narrow voids for emergency personnel to operate within, officials stated last week.
Eyewitness Reports
Those who escaped have recounted their harrowing escape experiences with regional news outlets.
One 13-year-old eyewitness recalled first "hearing the noise of collapsing materials", which "intensified and louder".
The adolescent immediately ran for the doorway, and while he managed to escape, he was wounded by collapsing materials from the ceiling.
