Tragedy Worsens as Indonesian School Collapse Fatalities Rises to 54

News Agency

The number of fatalities from the structural failure of an educational facility in Indonesia has climbed to 54, as confirmed by officials, with emergency responders continuing their search for more than a dozen unaccounted persons.

Hundreds pupils, primarily teenage boys, had assembled for religious services at the religious educational institution in Eastern Java when the structure collapsed while being renovated.

Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency describes this as the nation's deadliest catastrophe this year. Rescue personnel are anticipated to conclude their search operation for 13 victims ensnared beneath the rubble by evening.

Investigation Ongoing into Structural Failure

Authorities are still examining the reason behind the collapse. Certain authorities suggested the two-level structure caved in due to an unstable foundation.

"Out of all the catastrophes in 2025, whether natural or man-made, there hasn't been as numerous fatalities as the incident in Sidoarjo," declared a representative from the emergency management authority during a press conference.

The total count includes at least two people who were rescued from the debris but subsequently succumbed in medical care.

School Background and Regulatory Concerns

The facility is a conventional Islamic boarding school in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.

Many Islamic schools operate informally, lacking strong regulation or consistent monitoring. It remains unclear whether the institution had necessary permits to undertake building modifications.

Rescue Challenges

Emergency response efforts have proven challenging due to the manner the building fell, creating narrow voids for rescuers to operate within, authorities reported last week.

Eyewitness Reports

Survivors have recounted their harrowing escape experiences with local media.

One teenage eyewitness described first "noticing the sound of collapsing materials", which "grew louder and more intense".

The adolescent quickly rushed for the doorway, and while he managed to escape, he was wounded by falling debris from the roof.