Catastrophe Deepens as Indonesian Educational Institution Collapse Fatalities Increases to 54
Media Source
The number of fatalities from the collapse of an Indonesian school has climbed to 54, as confirmed by officials, with emergency responders still looking for over twelve missing individuals.
Hundreds students, mostly adolescent males, had gathered for prayers at the Islamic boarding school in Eastern Java when the structure collapsed while undergoing construction.
The country's emergency management authority describes this as the nation's most fatal disaster this year. Rescue personnel are anticipated to conclude their search operation for thirteen individuals trapped under debris by day's end.
Investigation Ongoing into Structural Failure
Investigators are continuing to probe the reason behind the collapse. Certain authorities suggested the two-level structure collapsed 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 ones in Sidoarjo," stated a deputy from the emergency management authority during a press conference.
The overall number includes at least two individuals who were extracted from the debris but subsequently succumbed in medical care.
School Background and Regulatory Concerns
The facility is a traditional religious educational center in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.
Many pesantren function without formal oversight, without strong regulation or consistent monitoring. It remains unclear whether the school had necessary permits to conduct additional construction.
Operational Difficulties
Search and rescue operations have proven challenging due to the way the structure fell, leaving only narrow voids for emergency personnel to maneuver within, authorities reported last week.
Eyewitness Reports
Those who escaped have shared their harrowing survival stories with local media.
One teenage eyewitness described first "noticing the noise of falling rocks", which "grew louder and louder".
The young person quickly rushed for the exit, and while he managed to escape, he was wounded by collapsing materials from the roof.
