Tragedy Deepens as Indonesian Educational Institution Collapse Death Toll 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 emergency responders continuing their search for over twelve unaccounted persons.
Hundreds students, primarily teenage boys, had gathered for religious services at the Islamic boarding school in East Java when the building collapsed while undergoing construction.
The country's emergency management authority characterizes this as the nation's most fatal disaster this year. Rescue personnel are expected to complete their rescue mission for 13 victims ensnared beneath the rubble by day's end.
Probe Underway into Structural Failure
Authorities are continuing to probe the reason behind the collapse. Certain authorities suggested the two-storey building collapsed due to an inadequate base.
"Among all the disasters in 2025, natural or not, there has not occurred as many dead victims as the ones in Sidoarjo," stated a representative from the disaster mitigation agency during a media briefing.
The total count includes at least two individuals who were rescued from the debris but later died in hospital.
Institutional Context and Oversight Issues
The facility is a traditional religious educational center in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.
Numerous Islamic schools operate informally, without strong regulation or consistent monitoring. It remains uncertain whether the school had proper authorization to conduct building modifications.
Rescue Challenges
Search and rescue operations have faced difficulties due to the way the building fell, creating tight spaces for rescuers to operate within, authorities stated previously.
Survivor Accounts
Those who escaped have recounted their harrowing escape experiences with local media.
One 13-year-old survivor described first "noticing the sound of falling rocks", which "intensified and louder".
The adolescent immediately ran for the exit, and while he managed to escape, he was injured by falling debris from the roof.
