Catastrophe Worsens as Indonesia Educational Institution Collapse Fatalities Increases to 54
Media Source
The number of fatalities from the collapse of an Indonesian school has escalated to 54, as confirmed by officials, with emergency responders continuing their search for more than a dozen unaccounted persons.
Hundreds pupils, mostly teenage boys, had gathered for religious services at the Islamic boarding school in East Java when the structure collapsed while being renovated.
The country's emergency management authority characterizes this as the nation's most fatal disaster this year. Emergency workers are expected to complete their search operation for 13 victims ensnared under debris by evening.
Probe Ongoing into Structural Failure
Authorities are continuing to probe the cause behind the structural failure. Certain authorities suggested the two-storey building collapsed due to an unstable foundation.
"Out of all the disasters in 2025, natural or not, there has not occurred as many dead victims as the ones in Sidoarjo," declared a deputy from the disaster mitigation agency during a media briefing.
The overall number includes at least two individuals who were rescued from the debris but subsequently died in medical care.
Institutional Context and Regulatory Concerns
The institution is a conventional religious educational center in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.
Numerous pesantren operate informally, without strong regulation or consistent monitoring. It remains unclear whether the institution had necessary permits to undertake building modifications.
Operational Difficulties
Emergency response efforts have proven challenging due to the manner the structure fell, leaving only tight spaces for rescuers to maneuver within, authorities reported last week.
Survivor Accounts
Survivors have shared their harrowing escape experiences with regional news outlets.
One teenage survivor recalled first "noticing the sound of falling rocks", which "intensified and more intense".
The young person quickly rushed for the doorway, and while he successfully got out, he was wounded by collapsing materials from the roof.
