Catastrophe Deepens as Indonesian Educational Institution Structural Failure Death Toll Rises to 54
News Agency
The death count from the collapse of an Indonesian school has escalated to 54, as confirmed by officials, with rescue teams continuing their search for over twelve missing individuals.
Hundreds pupils, mostly teenage boys, had gathered for religious services at the Islamic boarding school in East Java when the structure gave way while undergoing construction.
Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency characterizes this as the nation's deadliest disaster in 2025. Emergency workers are anticipated to complete their rescue mission for thirteen individuals trapped beneath the rubble by evening.
Investigation Ongoing into Collapse Cause
Investigators are continuing to probe the cause behind the collapse. Some officials indicated the two-level structure caved in due to an inadequate base.
"Out of all the disasters in 2025, whether natural or man-made, there has not occurred as many dead victims as the ones in Sidoarjo," stated a representative from the disaster mitigation agency during a press conference.
The total count encompasses at least two people who were extracted from the debris but later died in medical care.
Institutional Context and Oversight Issues
The institution is a traditional Islamic boarding school in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.
Many pesantren operate informally, without comprehensive oversight or regular inspections. It remains uncertain whether the school had necessary permits to conduct building modifications.
Rescue Challenges
Emergency response efforts have faced difficulties due to the way the building fell, creating narrow voids for rescuers to maneuver within, authorities reported last week.
Eyewitness Reports
Survivors have recounted their terrifying survival stories with regional news outlets.
One 13-year-old survivor recalled first "noticing the sound of falling rocks", which "intensified and more intense".
The adolescent immediately ran for the exit, and while he managed to escape, he was wounded by collapsing materials from the roof.
